ae he Welet tie a re ‘ ivy - MEIN ? ' + eA I ee va PROS Oe fe $ ad f vr > Re ee Oo - Se eee a ae nats — ' on Se —s ecm” < y * ¢ re Ath ag Ft yon sat he - ieee ‘ ‘Jag 7 fy B ey _ te ab oN é § ; : 4 7 ct . ys b nos ~ £ ‘a 4 . a f ? ye / _ ri pay ’ oF c : F : : : iow « F q al iy ee Wr ad #2 alk ta ae a , P + Pe, 4 a. ' ‘ e. 4 } f 2 at: . y ee A’ , os : y 7 iy. r 7 aed Sit ase r ae aes VE PASS re rae eS ee eee ee ae a! x ea “s * > ue ‘ ve oe? ez i. hae i : oe - ates ie ae : : ; Te . imate : - fale epiinicciesow ~~. ~ | | —— ; Pans — anes SS ae = os a + os I Bah on om la ee “ ~ de ht se J ae | ar a, i 246 nae > ° — se a > } LO uUclou. x 454. [LOUDON (THE EARL OF).|] The Conduct of a Noble Commander in America impartially reviewed; with the genuine Causes of the Discontents at New York and Halifax, and the true Oceasion of the Delays in that im- portant expedition; including a regular Account of all the Proceedings, ete. 8vo, half morocco, pp. 41. Lond. 1758 An uncut copy of this rare pamphlet. With a scarce portrait of the Earl inserted. It was written in defence of his conduct while commander-in-chief of the expedition against the French, . rs ts * ~ ' 7. - ; . 6 e : K — - -_ - : 7 4 f ai - “ 2 ed 7 ’ < A gy 7. a 4 - ‘ . t ‘ * F, . : f : bas re » GOS C9 CSS SH B59 SSO 45 209 208 466 696 aoe THE mw. YC y id OF THE “hang Of. L O-U D ON BLA Impartially reviewed, / POD HID SHS HIS GS GS GOS C9 209-006 GOS-Ene - ~ ~~ ‘ : - - -. yw’ . aad Plage i we ee : ; — sy al = mr te ee me ee ' H ww eye CE SL Ph Eh fl SO 3 } Can ‘ 2 : MOO 2 2 ; . 7 7 e Vii Q KE e Won “She an Y A odour Capt GeneraL& Governour inChie£.of hisMs jeitys Forcesan North America ; and one of the SeatecneS vers of herttind coe a en - dank 2 / - - a henedineces =~ ee Qe ean dap S et Ue eo = —_-~ s - —Galy = : - p ee BS ed . 4 ‘ ta on aed ae OF A eas 7 NOBLE COMMANDER IN Ad RI Ce Impartially reviewed; WITH The genuine Caufes of the Difcontents at NE W- YORK and HALIFAX, AND The true Occafion of the Delays in that important Expedition ; INCLUDING A regular Account of all the Proceedings and Inct- dents in the Order of Time wherein they pened. L ON D-O WN, Printed for R. Batpwin, in Pater-nofter- Rows M,DCC,LVIUI. [ Price Sixpence. ] we bl Po y oes <- - my bs tac... Sal , 7 a Laan 3, ery Ye Sa — ~ aes TSK y% 2s as —. - 3 mg ka (NSP aoe . : a ra eS Soe. hap- ‘ss } 4,4 : em » ca “BY y :. ; pe 7 ae —— —a — — ee ~ ” 7p a hy s a —— pe ail I : - a ae er PET Eee a Ee eT or - oe. 7 _— > Se CFC eRe a. id peat sib - ate fi - « . ais ‘ < eh POR. PP Cras “ : “A nog ts * S 4 miniftry had any fhare in its contrivance. The plan was his alone who-ftood entrufted with the execution of it; and there neither was nor is any caufe to doubt, but he would have purfued the true path fo its fuccefs. He is now returned: and in the place of that glory which he would’probably have gained ; he hasthe unfair reprefentations of interefted men to combat ; and hears his condué arraigned by thofe who have as little knowledge of the circum- ftances, as of the nature of the fervice. This his lordfhip “has paffed hitherto, and I fuppofe will continue .to pafs over, unregarded, The good and great are above the notice of po- pular clamour: but-what: themfelves defpife, o- thers often feel for them. ‘Ithink the earl of Loudon would be as much above anfwering fuch accufations, as deferving them: but. they are fo eafily refuted, that it were much to be regretted if none fhould do it. The general opinion of thefe perfons is, (at leaft it is their general exclamation) that his lord- fhip did not fufficiently pufh the fervice; and that Louisbourg might have been taken with the force under his command. They are bold e- nough’ to° urge the meafures of government in changing the cémmand, as a circumftance of proof for their-affertion. It little becomes fuch perfons to judge of the re- folutions of a miniftry, which it is impoffible they fhould underftand : and it would be as improper for meé'to queftion their impropriety, who am as far fat from any navsuitela geo their: motives : “but it’ will be eafy to fhew, this nobleman deferved no cenfure-; and it muft then be indifferent* from whom it comes. If it fhall appear by the: following fair detail’ of circumitances, that the earl of Loudon laid 2 plan of operations, equally for the glory and ‘in- tereft of his country; that this defign received the fanétion of the government ; and himéelf, its author, had the honour of the command: that the meafures. by: which he purfued this purpofe were conformable to reafon, and the nature of the fervice ; and that they wereapproved by thofe ‘moft immediately concerned; that the expedition was pufhed with all poffible: vigour by his lord- fhip ; and was rendered impracticable by acci- dents in which he had no concern; we have reaion to hope the candid and honeft-will conti- ‘nue to pay that regard to his lordfhip’s great qua- lities, with which they received the notice of his being appointed to command in that enterprize. This we fhall attempt to fhew, by a plain re- cital of facts; which will be related, we hope, with accuracy; at leaft with impartiality: for we have no view but truth. This has been hitherto ob{cur- ed by artifices, or defaced*by-rancour, but it is _ not difficult to clear off thofe ftains, and prefent the fair relation to the world. It has not yet been done ; and indeed, according to the cirtcumftan- ces, could not eafily; for we have depended in England upon the reprefentations of things from A3 ea Oe Se | 6 thofe on the f{pot, who, $s they knew the truth; were partial. ; | ‘The people of New-York hated lord Loudon for two things; his quartering the troops upon them, and the embargo on their fhips: and pow- er changed hands in England. The enterprize mifcatried, as half-the enterprizes ix the world have done, from the circumftances of things, not from any fault in the commanders: and tho’ we fufter, no one is to blame. This is the gene- ral {tate of the cafe; and this will appear by the following fads. wi : We-fhall take in the whole time from the firft plan of the enterprize,to the return of the troops : and we have neither defire. nor power to mifre- prefent them. They have been laid before the publick as they occurred, and occafionally, in large recitals: and we may apply to every ac- count that has been publifhed from the articles of news-papers, to the fyftems of the temporary politicians, that they areas here reprefented, and that they never have been reprefented otherwife. Thefe being allowed, the reafonings cannot be. contradicted, for they flow from no other fource ; and we flatter ourfelves the impartial publick (to whofe judgment kings appeal) will entertain no doubt in any circumitance. What is here offer- red is the plain and uninfluenced voice of reafon: if his lordfhip had. been confulted, doubtlefs it would have been better; but it is thus difinte- refted ; and I believe no one will have fo much caufe as himafelf to be diflatisfied, . The by 4 The ftory will ftand.as an example of the va- nity of the ; Ar bitrium popularis aura. And if the reader withes to fee another, let him remember the poor good old lord Blakeney. The vehemence of applaufe, and thefudden and unmerited turn from it to cenfure or neglect, are milerable inftances of the unfteadinefs of the hu- man mind; and while they teach us caution, they fhould ‘be alfo ieflons of humility. Toward the latter end of the year before laft, the earl of Loudon laid before the miniftry his fenfe of the ftate of the war. The importance of North America needed not to be infifted on; it was too obvious for argument: the little fuccefs ‘of our forces there, he fhewed; was. owing to their having undertaken little; and it was pro- pofed to attempt Cape Breton, and thence all Canada. The enterprize was great, and it was therefore fit for Britons: - The thought was wor- thy ofa hero; and with the Propofition » this nobleman laid down the means and meafures for its execution: vaft-as it appeared, he thewed it was practicable; and we have no reafon to doubt but that he would have proved it fo in the exe- cution. Perhaps we fhall ftill fee it done with the fame forces, and upon the fame plan: and I think I may venture to fay, that in this cafe no man will be more rejoiced at his country’s fuccefs than lord Loudon, or more indifferent whether it were brought about by himfelf or by another. When ss 5 po ~ “ 7 ” le es z - ‘ ‘ - e . ~via” >" < > Livescore rence, - “~e ye . ; ES Se . serine poe . ? . ~ - < et cmats . Ss ys * ~*, = i o~ er -—> Se ern Se PF a “se , x ~ _ ee ee ee neti iin Se —_,_ 4 “op 8 oe gers SS Sn ee ~ te Oe RR VSP ei oS ge Te, a det $e _ ii _ et See ~~) =p a eo eR SS Rta ee es =a ) Yt far eee eee SS ee Miche 18S 4 " < oO EES Ly + » d wa corns S ae PR PMT) Crs CW OREN | ~~ : d ~ — 3 — . Sen? ee ee 2 Lay a ee — ee : : Se eins - f 8 When this nobleman propofed to the govern- ment an enterprize againit thefe places, he deli- vered in an account of the force which might be required for its execution ; ‘and the greateft per- fons in the kingdom, after a mature confideration, did:,equal honour to his Jordfhip’s . head.and heart, by approving not the purpofe only,-but the plan of operations; and. by committing. to hisccare the conduct of the expedition. Lord Loudon, received the approbation of . his fcheme with the fame coolnefs wherewith he had laid it ; and, «vith ‘an undifturbed mind, planned the ne- . ceffary meafures, not of fuccefs alone in the en- terprize; but. of fafety in the colonies which might be expofed by it. | .. Three points demanded great confideration. ‘The preventing the enemy from receiving intel- ligence of his defigns ; the providing an uninter> rupted tran{portation for the troops ; andthe fe- curing the frontiers of the feveral colonies, moft expofed to be attacked by. the enemy, while the main force was acting effeétuaily on the great fcheme.. } Thefe are the requifites toa rational undertak- ing.of fuch importance, and without thefe fuccefs would either be impoflible, or the confequences worfe than its: failure. | For thefe lord Loudon:provided, by a timely care, and by fuch meafures as appeared to him left moft eafy and effectual. Had things at home continued in the ftate wherein he left them, thefe meafures would have | been ee 9 been applauded, as they certainly appear to have deferved ; and every one of them would have been a new article in his praife : but men jadged differently by the time. the accounts arrived: and the mob, who had before applauded not without ‘reafon, though without ‘knowledge,. were now taught to cenfure and condemn. equally without either ; and they who knew a little againft both. Men who, were at this vaft diftance were to judge of operations, without knowing upon what circumftances he who wasonthe {potfound them neceflary; and they who were ignorant of. the nature of command, were'to determine concern~ ing the meafures of the war. The politician of a coffee-houfe was to fit in judgment upon his defigns, whom the goyernment had underftood to be perfectly capable of the fervice; and it may be faid, with that freedom which becomes — the truth, ignorance was not. his moft dangerous. enemy. Men were taught. to. fay what thofe who influenced them knew to be falfe; and the - feputation of the commander was to be facrificed, while he was purfuing a defign approved by his country, by thofe very meafures which he had laid down for its execution. I fhall not anticipate, by entering into particu- Jars, what may be neceffary on a more important occafion; but I fhall add, there are fome who will blufh to read this; and perhaps fear what may follow. As to the popular opinion, no man defpifes that, except he who knows he does not deferve It; rey = oe Ce. Os DR See eae he Ee —" PONT re in Ee TRS, ARON SP” ULNA ae -* oe ars ¥. Se ee See ee aA . Secs “xa fee ‘e —— : ae a EN, ee a1 by cae ee Sratgtene i East ag men + fe Oe — : 10 | it; but I may add, adi with truth, that this commander, though perhaps he has felt with as much warmth of gratitude as any man, the ap- plaufes of his country, yet would difclaim them upon the conditions on which fome have tried togainthem. ’ The meafures by which this general providéd for the execution of his enterprize, and the de- fence of the colonies, though they be now con- troverted, were once approved: they ftill are what they were, and it feems plain to reafon they would have been approved ftill, if any o- ther man had followed them. He was in a com- ‘mand that authorifed his taking thefe fteps ; and he was upon the {pot to know, though we are not, that they were neceffary. © This will appear hereafter; and it is juft it fhould be believed now, unlefs fome reafonable caufe be fhewn to doubt it. In the colonies, the governors whom his lord- fhip aflembied on that occafion, entered into all his reafons, approved all his propofitions, and, like the government at home, adopted all his meafares ; and by their ready ‘concurrence did him peculiar honour. - | They were pleafed to think he underftood the ftate of their refpeftive governments better than they did themfelves; and while they acknowledg- ed the wifdom of placing them only on the de- fenfive, they were at once furprifed at the eafy means by which he propofed to effec it ;-and perfectly convinced that thofe means were fuffi- cient. When 11 ] | When, in alii of his lordfhip’s plan, the number of troops to be fupplied by. each colony was fettled, and the places of their deftination were appointed, according to the well laid and well underftood plan of general defence; this part of the preparation was accomplifhed : and the refpect the feveral governors paid to the com- mander, and the unanimity they fhewed among one another, gave every poffible prof{pect of tran- _quillity. | Thus far the enemies of lord Loudon (but I recall the term, he can have none) let me be permitted to call them the blind and mifguided creatures of thofe who wifh him ill, muft ac- knowledge every thing was conducted well. The two remaining articles, the effeCtual -con- veyance of the forces, and the preferving fecrecy in regard to the enemy, were to be provided for, one way and only one: this was by laying an embargo on the outward-bound veffels. . Either of thefe occafions would have juftified that mea- fure in the eye of reafon, but both concurred to demand it. This expedient anfwered both pur- pofes, and no other meafure could have anfwered either. 7 I know this embargo has been an occafion of much complaint at home, for fome caufe of dif- fatisfaétion muft be affigned ; and this was beft, for it was popular. Far be it from thofe who in- tereft themfelves in lord Loudon’s caufe to endeas= vour to deny, to extenuate, or even to excufe this proceeding. If there be blame laid on it, B 2 What + 12 What is the caufe? ae it i tnecefiary to the fers vice? none would difpute it ; that: would’be too hardy: it would betray an ignorance no man would charge upon himfelf. Had he not a right and juft authority to do it? there is‘no que+ {tion but he had. His orders were abfolute: he was fuppofed to underftand the fervice: he was confidered as a brave and an’honeft man: and he will be confidered as fuch a one when even, the deteftation fhall ceafe, which will long pur- fue their memories who now affeé to think him otherwife. It muft be owned that the laying an embargo on the outward-bound veflels was a neceflar meafure, and that lord Loudon had juft authority to do it. Of what then is it that:men would complain ? Is there any one will fay a comman- der is to blame, who does a neceflary aGtion by ._ his proper power? there is none fo abfurd, Let them on the other’hand fay, whether they would. not have blamed him if he had omitted it? They would have had juft reafon, This embargo was attended with many incon- veniencies to private perfons ; it is allowed; but it could not be avoided. Public meafures of the moft ufeful kind often are fo, and when the people's voice is left to its free courfe, the necef- fity is feen, and there is no complaint, . None will difpute the neceffity of it in this in- ftance. It is impoffible.: At.the fame time it muft be owned, it was attended with particular -inconveniencies, ‘England was in want of corn; at [ 13 at leaft the public by 3.4 men were made te think fo; and to fuffer as much as if the {carcity was real; there was corn in the colotiies that could be {pared ; and the embargo prevented for the time its exportation. * The circumftances aré certain. But did lord Loudon create thefe cir cumftances? Was he the author of our imaginary famine ; or in the plan of his enterprize could he forfee it? It is allowed thofe perfons in the colonies whe had hipped corn-tor England loft an advantage; but it was a lofs that could not be avoided: and if thofe who have been loudeft in complaints would make out a fair lift of the fufferers, the quantity fhipped, and the time delayed, it would be found, that very little occafions, when it is thought convenient, can raife great clamours. This is the fair way of {tating the account ; it i8 very plain why they will not be brought to do it; but 1f we hear more of its ’tis not impoffible that we may do it for them. | In plain truth the inconvenience was much lefs than has been pretended ; and the import- ance of the meafure greater than can be well i- magined. ‘The candid reader fees the fair ftate of the cafe; and he will perhaps fay for himfelf, what, after the meafures that have been taken, it would be indecent for me to fay to him. The government has, in confequence of the clamours on this fabjeét, taken from commanders, for the future, the power of extending an em- bargo to fhips deftined hither from the colonies. Li x ij ig 4 in z iy , P A 7 > ~ an 4@ ie j ve: f . mi | 14 T thall not take pet me X judge whether. this ftep be wife, or. what were its immediate motives; for I think greatly of their integrity and wifdom who now have power: but if it be thought by any that this new regulation reflects difgrace upon lord Loudon, they may be told, that on the con- trary, the taking away this power for the future, acknowledges he had it juftly when he exerted ¥t; and the neceflity of the fervice was really e- nough to have anfwered much greater private difadvantages. Men,whofe own hearts had taught them to feek bad motives for the conduét of others, laboured to attribute this embargo to a different caufe; and there were not wanting fome weak enough to imagine, or wicked enough to pretend, they ima- gined there, that this ftep was taken to favour the bargains of thofe who were to provide for the forces: nor did we want here men who were impolitic enough, I had like to have faid ab- {urd enough, to adopt the opinion, _ I fhall not enlarge here upon the private cha- racter of lord Loudon; but, they muft have Known very little of it, who could fuppofe him capable of being influenced by fuch motives; and they muft have furely ftrange heads as well as moft abandoned hearts, who when the nature of the publick fervice fo plainly and fo needfully re- guired this meafure, could attribute it to private views and perfonal intereft. Thofe who were upon the {pot can acquaint the incredulous, that it was not till late in the clamour this 15 this accufation was ftarted.. The firft complaints were of the hardfhips ofthe meafure; the unhappy ftate of private men who muft be oppreffed to ferve the public ; and the neceffities of England. Thefe were the firft expoftulations ; but when the lord ‘Loudon fteadily oppofed the publick caufe to thefe private hardfhips ; and though he was con- cerned to fee them, would not endanger the ge- ‘neral fervice to remove them; then it was that private purpofes were pretended ; then malice taught the fufferers to invent caufes, which them- felves did not believe ; and thefe were added to the former clamours. Lord Loudon, in the confcioufnefs of his own innocence, ftemmed this torrent of calumny there; but probably he did not imagine it ever could be received in England. If it be a crime to prefer the public fervice to the conveniencies of a few private perfons, it cannot be denied that lord Loudon has been gui'- ty. Ifthe care of thofe forces, which ‘are ex- pected to perform the greateft exploits, be crimi- nal in their commander, this nobleman:is with- out excufe. He had, before this great affair of the embargo, incurred the. ill will of fome indt- viduals on this account: and it muft be owned, that he feems on that firft occafion to have con- fidered the foldiery not only as valuable members of a ftate, but as human creatures. Thefe are his crimes: for he is not accufed of others, ex- cept by perfons who are too low for aniwering; and te all thefe I believe he will plead guilty. Ie AR Bett no , ca _—_ » ” oa.* - { 9 ” Se ‘ir Par?! | 16 England had refufed t a quarters to the Hef- fians, whom fhe had called over for her immedi- ate defence, at a feafon when the field prefented only death to them: and New- York, taithful to the difgraceful example of the. mother country, would have expofed to death with as little remorfe the troops this government fent thither for her protection, and for the enterprife defigned by this commander. On this occafion, if reafon be allowed to judge, lord Loudon’s conduét may be fet as a model for all future officers in the like circumftance. | rs 4 he troops the:government had fent in purfue ance of the plan, arrived after the worft hard- fhips..of a winter's voyage: and, after all their fufferings, they had the {pirit to fay, that they complained of nothing, fince they knew the {er- vice required. it, The people, though they had been fénfible enough of thefe dangers, and though they look- ed upon thefe troops as deftined for their lafting fecurity, yet would have treated them with a ri- gour difgraceful, even if fhewn toward the pri- foners of an enemy: the public houfes were by no means fufficient for their reception ; and to the moft mild remonftrances,. the magiftracy an- {fwered, with as little decency as feeling, that they: fhould not be admitted into private ones. The commander knew equally his power, and the neceflity of the fervice he ordered them ih a fair and equal diftribution to the private as well as publick houfes. ‘Fhe magiftracy infifted on | = their ee I their rights and privileges ; to which lord*Lou- don oppofed his authority, and the. neceflity of the fervice. “They were outrageous, and he was refolute.. He always {poke with great 'ref- pect of their natural-and political rights; but he would notf.crifice to them the lives of the foldiers. His Lordfhip carried his point; and hethen.took orders for the good behaviour of the foldiers.. In this he was as indefatigable, as he had been refo- lute in giving them quarters; and it, will be own- ed at New-York for ever, in {pite even of preju- dice itfelf, that the foldiers behaved with fo per- fect regularity and decency, that thofe who had been loudeft in the oppofition, owned after wards they fuffered no hardfhip. Let us now fairly review thefe two capital in- . eidents. It was on thefe the commander firft loft-the good will of fome people in the colonies ; and thefe, as foon as they found encouragement from England, {pread the moft unjuft afpertions. Lord Loudon had the honour to be entrufted’ with the condutt of a very important enterprize ; and: he manifefted a due care and a becoming f{pi- rit in providing:in thefe two inftances for the pre fervation of the troops, and for) preventing that common fource of difappointment inEnglifh enter- prizes, the intelligence of the enemy. In each of thefe cafes {ome private perfons{uffered incon- Veniencies: and there are mouths in which a Little hardfhip-will make a loudoconiplaint. It is‘enough to fay, that the difadvantages in each cafe, were theclea{t that could be expected ; and that, with a determined care for the fuccels of C the 8 J | the enterprife, alk poffible attention was fhewn to the intereft of the people. . The embargo was continued:no longer than tHe neceflity of the férvice required: and the people fuffered nothing from receiving: their deliverers into: their houfes; Perhaps they faved-all by it. The fchemes.and: purpofes of the enemy for that year’s campaign are now known! and their difappointment was ewing folely to thefe fuccours; fo that it is not too much to fay, thatthe numbers. of thefe forces, and the determined {pirit of the commander in ehief, which ‘the: French. alfo-knew, faved: thefe colonies without ftriking a blow.: if they knew what) it is for accpuntry to. be'the: feat of war} they will at length underftand: what are thofe fers vices of a force which deters the enemy from ‘at- tacking them: and they will know, what thofe whore fit to command armies always know, that much more‘fervice may in fuch cafes be done by keeping the forces together, than.even by the . gaining a victory. Whether or not this has been the cafe in that quarter of the worid, let thofe fpeak who. have been upon the {pot at the time: others talk as they are influenced; often wickedly, and always ignorantly. It is probable, that we thall: now fpeedily receive the news: of vittories and acqui- ficions there ; but. it will be allowed, that the o- perations of the preceeding campaign have laid the foundation of them, and led the way to them: and no man will have the prefumption to fay, that equal advantages would not have followed, if [ 19 J if the-command-had continued in the fame hands, For my own part, and I.am not altogether uns acquainted with the circumftances, I think cers tainly they would: and when I recollect the fury of applaufe and good opinion, which. ac» companied this nobleman on his'undertaking the fervice ; and fee no ftep by which he has. jutftly forfeited that good opinion, or deferved even the lighteft cenfure, J] cannot. join.'the multitude in difclaiming my firft fentiments: but rather. pity the weaknefs of human nature, and bluth to fee men of greater abilities carried with the torrent, and adopting opinions which they-could not de- fend. It was an article of high importance in the ree gulation of this enterprize, that a fleet-ot -confi- derable force fhould fail from-Englandat fuch a feafon as to join its influence in the action. The commander in chief of the forces knew very well at what time this fleet ought to fail from England; and when it might reafonably be expeéted in :As merica. His lordthip computed the voyage, as accurately as:-fuch circumftances will admit>of computations; for a voyage to America is always longer than one from thence to_England: and allowing for this and for the chance of winds; he computed that they might be expected the: fir week in June. | Let me demand, with that fair freedom which becomesthetruth, Can any man fay lord Loudon judged amifsiin this re{pect? -was it not reafon- able that he fhould expect the fleet at that time? art C2 or 20 or ‘was it reafonable he (hould undertake with- out them an entérprize of fo great moment, and in-which they were deftined to have fo large a fhare? Plain as the an{wers to thefe gueft ons are,’ the demand is not the lefs neceflary. What Ihave heard ‘objeSted to the condué of this nobleman, has arifeén either from want of know- ledge of the moft plain faats, or from a refolution to conceal that knowledge. The anfwer te all the, cavils is fo plain, a man of reafon ‘is aloft afhamed to make it; but they fhould bluth who have rendered it neceflary. Much» more might be faid: and may be if farther occafion calls; but, for the fatisfaGtion of the -difinterefted public, this will be fufficient. We have fcen the flaterof the enterprize, its dependence upon a fleet from England, and the regular expectation of that reinforcement... Let us review the: Condue “of ‘lord dsoudon, evento the minuteft article; for what is honourable will béar it, and-beomore itfelf; the Mricter is the trials. Ttewill rife-as gold from: the furnace, the More -pure and prrfedt for thefe ftri&t enquiries. ~The troops: who had-arrived- in the depth of winter, had: beemrecruited:and::efrethed by three months reit and food in their quarters, when the: preparation was io be begun tor the fervice, ‘Fhefe quarters and this retrefhment we have fhewn ‘they owed: to lord’ Loudon: the people would have left them ‘in-the.ftieets to perifh, Phbedpistand aetertmined refolution with which, tHeoy oh unact the dofcit language, his lordship ; had ao P2F | had infifted on this point, againft the magiftraey and'people, dovbtlefs have made him many ene- mies there; but they ought to have procured him more friends here; and to have endeared him for ever to the army. | It was plain thofe people would endeavour-to mifreprefent his aétions ; ‘but their fource of en- mity, which continued not the lefs violent tho” concealed; fhould have been always confidered hire; and their accounts judged accordingly. The tranfports became the next confideration 5 and it was computed, that about ninety would be fufficient for the embarkation. Timely care was taken of this: the government was not put to a needlefs expence, by keeping them in pay a long while before they were wanted ; nor was the preparation left to the laft moment.” As it was pofiible the fleet from England might arrive fooner than the computation, ninety vefiels for this fervice were ready by the firft week in May, _ and were got together at New-York, with orders tobe in readinefs to receive the forces. J his was the condué of the general ; and let me ask thofe who would find fault throughout his pro- ceedings, What in this was wrong, What was ill- judged, or What they would with otherwife! Ie is thus we have defired them to examine *the whole conduct of the enterprize, and thus we fhail defire they will continue the examination. ] hat thefe things are true as they are here repre- fented, is notorious: and how could they have been dircéted better? : Lord ts oh WA . tin ah - Das 2 ° " rrery ay a y . ee ¥ ab AS . mis . Ties _— ~ me : Fo renee ae _f them of theline; and that they were deftined ey av ; by as pe : eace ~ NP ase o-a sean etl a b | r 22 Lord wadendiaat all Slows thus in readinefs afortnight, waiting with that impatience which could not but arife in the breaft of a commahder who loved his country, and had concerted. mea- fures for rendering her the moftimportant fervice, for the arrival of the fleet from England, -Though toward. the end of May they were mot arrived, as every.day brought the utmottli- mits of the computation nearer and nearer, the forces were, in the laft week of that month, or- deréd to embark. _ This was done with good order and due expe- dition, They arrived at Sandyhook on the. firft day of June; and the fifth of that month, the time of utmoft computation for the arrival.of the Englith fleet, lord Loudon .alfo embarked, -that he might be in readinefs to fail on it’s arrival. . Hitherto let us:ask partiality itfelf, Was. there any fault in the condud.of lord,Loudon; or could there any be. pretended in it? Is it not evident that his force was_ready, and himfelf reidy, to act on the arrival. o° the fleets and. would they have.had him fail without.them ? i .. While the preparations were making at New- ork, for our troops embarking, newsicame that the French hadia {quadron of fome force cruifing off: Fallifax: that they were fix thips of war, five to Lonisbourg. . The intelligence, which came expre{s from Bofton, was confirmed by the crews of fome prizes, which had fallen.into the hands of the privateers of New-York; their tefimony | | relating 7 : {i 27] relating to the’ number and force of the thips concurring with the account from ourown people, The fleet from England, eagerly expe&ted) was not yet.arrived. What was the commander:of the land-forces to do? Could he with his tranfu ports and the {mall | fupport offhips of war thag¢ attended them, proceed againft fach a force 2 there is none fo rafh or ignorant-as’to fay. it. » Alluthat could be done was done: two-thips of war fent out ito view the coaft, the tran{ports remaining at anchor. The year was now advanced toward the latteg end of June: and the feafon: of the campaign, “iff which fo! much was to ‘be done, ‘became ‘con= tracted into very narrow limits: lord Loudon who had formed the plan, and from: his knows ledge-of all circumftances had to great expectas tionsfrom ‘it, ~pafled the hours employed in ‘this neceflary fley;, in great impatience: atlength thefé fhips returned, andhad {cen nothing of the enemy, The operationsof the campaign, the hope of advantage to. England from ali this. preparation; hung now almoft upon a point of time, a moment, To fail was not without hazard ; but: to dela longer was to-givewp all.~ If fuch a’ force of the enemy, as had been reprefented, fhould) have fallen in with thetranfports, the event muft have been dreadful ; but there was hope they might not, fincethefe fhips'fent out on ‘purpofe had not feen them. , Ou Lord Loudon, urged by this profpect of face cefs, and by the certain mifchief-of a-longer des lay . { 24 lay, failed on the eae June; and-he are tivedin ten days-at Halifax. », Petfe& inethe exp. tation of the Englifh fleet’s coming, lord Loudon, who had waited hour by hour while'he-lay at Sandyhook; for it’s appear» ance, never, doubted, but in the time of his fail« ing from thence'to Halitax, they would arrive: but even this: thought was vain. He made the dangerous voyage fuccefsfully ; but he found no fleet, nor had theleaft notice of any. : Delays in England, and contrary winds in the - paflape, kept admiral Holbourn from North A- merica till the fecond week in July.; Ido not know that there is any accufation fairly to be laid egain{t, thofe who were expected to prevent: the delay at home: and certainly the winds ‘aré un- controulable : but whatfoever prevented this fleet from arriving atthe expeéted time in. America, prevented alfo the fucceisful execution of thé pros ject. The prefent: fleet has: failed under more happy aufpices:-it has reached the deftination more than two months earlierthan that did which, fhould have {upported the operations of lord Loudon ; and as we judge with reafon that the delay of that fleet prevented our fuccefs, we may with equal juftice promife ourfelves that glory from the prefent. expedition, which it was im- poffible to reap in the other. Lord Loudon found at Halifax the deftined re- inforcement of fhips and men; and he landed his foldiers, and encamped them onan advyan- tageous ground, | All | 25] All this time reels expected fleet was abfent. His lordfhip kept the men employed in clearing ground for a parade, and afterwards in regularly exercifing them upon it, andin mak- ing every other preparation that could be necef- fary or ufeful in the fucceeding time of ation. At laft the fleet arrived ; not in a body, but fhip by fhip, as the winds and feas permitted. Ju- ly was wafting faft ; and every motion required now the moft preffing hafte. The firft ftep to- ward the attack of Louisbourg was to learn the {tate of the place at that inftant, the force and condition of the enemy, and the feveral circum- {tances which might give light into the beft me- thod of attack. Veffels had from time to time been fent out to this purpofe ; and now fome of the beft failing ones in the fleet, with the moft experienced pi- lots on board, were difpatched with the two great inftructions, a careful examination, and a quick return. In the mean time the care lay in preparing the -Jand forces for the attack. The number amount- ed to abouteleven thoufand ;. but a great part of thefe were new to the profeffion of arms, and ignorant of the duty. ' | The firft bufinefs had been to give them the rudiments of their in{truction, on their landing at Halifax ; and they were now prattifed in the me- thods of attack ; and accuftomed to the fmell of powder, by repeated reprefentations-of regular fieges; in which every incident that could occur 2 ie Sua im go G y out [ 26.) in actual fervice was fhewn them ; and all thofe ‘things which might have thrown them into con- fufion in the affault, by their novelty, were ren- dered familiar by the examples, conduéted with the moft perfe& regularity in thefe exercifes. This was the employment of the land force, while intelligence was fought by the hips: and by this the men were fo well taught their duty, and fo familiar with every article in the attack of an enemy, that perhaps from a body in great ‘part raw and undifciplined, they were, by the end of that fhort interval, fuch as it would be difficult to equal in many armies. It does not appear to me, that a better ufe ‘could have been madé of the time neceflarily employed in gaining intelligence: ‘nor can it ap- pear to any, that Louisbourg fhould have been at- tacked before this information was obtained. “There is no man fo.loft toreafon. Yet this is by fome ftrange artifice, and by a more ftrange con- ‘duct in the generality, attributed to the com- mander in chief as a crime; and he is thought blameable for it. This alfo gave occafion to the gallant impatience of an officer in high comm- mand ; which I yet think deferved applaufe, not ‘cenfure ; much lefs the harfh fteps which a coun- cil of war thought proper to take upon that oc- cafion. = wb <- He who blames eagernefs in the troops, con- demns what he ought ofall things to encourage and applaud. The earneft valour of the officers 4s of the fame true ftamp, and of the fame high character ; 27. ] er character; the regulations of the fervice will al- ways prevent its going too great a length; and.it is a good prefage of fuccefs,in action. Thefe are to with for the engagement, but it is the commander. in chief who is to determine when to enter,upon it.,, His: valour fhould be of another. caft and character, tempered: with cool thought, and under the abfolute. controul of reas fon. Ae eS | r He alone.is to determine, when and..in: what: manner to attack the enemy: his place and office give him this; authority ;, and, the firft praife in thofe who are under himin command, is acquief- cence in his opinions, with unanimity. .. The,sepeated exercies and conftant employ- ment of the troops in thefe attacks, had raifed in them a fpirit of earneft defire:to enter-on the real fervice ; and it is no wonder their officers breath ed the fame generous.ardour,...I think it may be faid, within the bounds of modeft, truth;,that 26 man in the army defired the opportunity of én- tering upon action, more earneftly than lord Lou- don ; but in him it was .a defire tempered with.a thoufand cautions. The lives,of the men,:'the fuccefs of the enterprize, the glory of his coun-, try, and her immediate and moft important ins terefts, depended folely upon him: he, muft ane, {wer it to God and to his country, if all was not conducted rightly, and the, leaft overfight;.of ‘his’, might coft the lives of the men, and.the.very hope of the caufe, | oe ons For thefe reafons he earneftly fought the ne- ceflary intelligence; and certainly the manage- iS ment 2§ ment and re | © oF the force while he ‘waited for it (however fome men, in whofe minds raillery takes the place of reafon, may have reé- prefented, it) was the moft rational that could have been devifed. The foldiers thought fo ; and they found the effects of ‘it, in fach an improvement as‘was ne- ver’made in a like body of troops in equal time : the people'alfo thought it who were on the fpot. It was an aét of which every, man could judge ; and all’ voices were unanimous in approving it. Ifitcéuld be charged upon lord Loudon that he protracted the tithe of waiting for this intelli gence, and that he‘had omitted fuch means of it as were before ‘in his ‘power, there would be jut ground’ for'this cerifure: but it is notorious that was not' the cafe.’ Our ‘attempts’ for intelligence were unhappily delayed “and difappointed ; but thefe mifchances in ‘the execution “cannot lay blame upon the commander who gave the orders. This and’ this only is'the ‘queftion with relation to-his lordfhip; Did he‘or did he ‘ot difpatch vet felsat proper times, and ‘with proper inftru@tions, on'this important -fervice? ‘It is moft evident that he did: and this’was all he could’do:° We can nomore charge upon lord Loudon the ill luck of thofe he fent out for this purpofe, than the delay of the Englith fleet. © —, It 1s'certain that’ {lich a fleet, the force and deftination of which were fettled fo long before, might have arrived in North Ametica ar 4 much earlier period ; and in that cafe rhe tie neceffa- ty _ ’ 29 | ry, for gaining intelligence would not have fwal- lowed up the feafon fit for action; buc it is hot Jord Loudon’s fault the fleet from England came ° fo much too lates He,could do no more than get in readinefs to act with it when it fhould arrive; and he was in that readinefs. The time of gain- ing intelligence between the arrival of the fleet, and the entering upon a¢tion, muft be allowed as a neceflary period of delay, -by all-who Weigh _ the action. This could not be re:renched by lord Loudon; the only queftion, which can regard his lordfhip’s condué, -is, whether he prolonged it ? Let this be examined ftriétly, for.it will be to-his advantage every article fhould be. {o, {crutinized ; but let us fet out juftly. [he time was prolonged beyond all expectation; but. lord Loudon no more prolonged it, than he delayed the fleet. ~ It. is allowed, -intelligence was neceflary from time to time, and moft effential of all before the entering upon action. Lord. Loudon had from time to time fought and obtained it, and juft before the engaging in the fervice, he dif patched {wift-failing veficls, and good pilots, to obtain it, and to, make adpeedy return, Some time mutt elapfe in. this employment; and dure ing this time, his lordfhip. exercifed and accuf- tomed the forces to the intended fervice. This. was not cenfured 3 far otherwife ; it was applaud~: ed. But the time of waiting was protraéted, and: when the intelligence was flow, he was cenfured as if he -had been the caufe 5, and the employ- ment of the troops in mock fights and ait eit PI ETRE, PF IKE LE a <= > ‘- on <= = a ese = ERE mi . nT Se ie ee ae ed n fac ee es . > Se ie we i , a Rs = | » eT h - ee, b re ‘ : ’ y a) : fe) feit attacks was bigaeinited hia tidiculed even by thofe who had before applauded it. So light is human nature! | "If this employment of the foldiers was reafon- able at firft, it could not be ridiculous afterwards; if it.was once right, it could not become wrong, unlefs by wat ufeful time upon it. But the time could not be ufeful till the intelligence are rived ; and the cenfure was therefore moft unfair. The commander in chief ordered thefe exercifes for the inftruétion and improvement of the foldi- ery, in a time of Inattion ; this inaction was ne- ceflary while the imtelligence was fought, and #t could nof but continue till the intelligence ar- rived. here could be no better or more ufeful employment of the’ foldiers during that period, and it was not continued any longer. One almoft blufhes to ftate propofitions which are in themfelves*forclear; fo largely; but there is no other way to combat the popular clamour. They who have been fo rath as to cenfure this commander, either do not underftand’ thefe things, tho’ they are fo plain, or they affeé not to fee them clearly. It is neceffary therefore to ftate them as they are ; either to convince thofe perfons, or to fhew the public that they aébagainit “conviction. “With regard to the delay itfelf, now let’ the impartial hear the reafons, The very day the commander in chief came to Halifax, the moft experienced pilot of the place, captain Goram., ’ was fingled out for the important fervice of gain- ing =f be ing intelligence of the enemy’s ftrength andveons dition. His orders were exprefs, and they im- plied diligent enquiry, and a quick return. _He found in the harbour of Louisbourg fourteen fhips of war; ten of the line, the others frigates: this was the condition of the enemy before the arrival of the Britifh fleet, and I fuppofe the moft fevere accufer of this general’s conduct will allow, all that he could do was to gain intelligence of it. There is none who would have had him enter on the attack againft this force, and without the fleet. The time of waiting for the Englith thips was fo confiderable, that great alterations in the ftate of the enemy’s affairs might have been made in that period: therefore frefh knowledge of their ftrength was afterwards neceflary. Captain Rous was then fent out in the Succefs, and two veflels of lefs force, with one of the tranfports, the beft failor among them. Intelligence from this fource was of the higheft importance, and the defign was excellent for obtaining it. The tranfport was-to be fent as clofe into the mouth of the harbour as pof- fible, that the French might take her for a prize, this would naturally have brought out; a pilot: and they were to have come back with him to the general and commander of the fleet. If this failed, and he fhould be chafed by the fhips of war, the orders were for the fhips in the offing to get between the enemy and land, and take up any veflel they fhould fee, that the people might be examined for the neceflary oo The ~ . ee ee OTT a ly 7 ~ "Phe commander in chief can have no more.to anfwer ‘or, than this plan- of fervice, and thefe orders: We khow the plan was not executed, and the orders were not punétually followed ; but this lies not at his door: nor indeed at any man’s, There feemed a better opportunity of intelligence to offer, and the purfuit of that pre- vented the other. All that regards lord Loudon, is the propriety of this defign for gaining it; and that, we may prefume, none will attempt to blame; it is certain none there blamed it; and they were better judges than any can be here. That the commander in chief was fully deter- mined to attack the French, upon the ftate of evidence firft brought in by captain Goram, none pretend to doubt; nor can it be faid that any ne- ceflary or proper meafure tending to that purpofe was omitted. The arrival of the fleet was to give the means of the attack; and ali that could be done now, was to have every thing in readi- nefs. Bhi After this all was conducted in the fame man- ner: and the laft day of July all the tranfports were ordered in divifions to the weft fhore, and to have the boats ready for receiving the troops; a proper number of men draughted from the Halifax regiments were fent on board the men of war; and the whole force had orders to be ready for embarking at an hour’s notice.’ The next-day all the troops were embarked, councils were held for the immediate conduct of the en- | , terprize, terprize, and a floop of war was difpatched. to England, with intelligence of ali that had pafled. The Succefs,. whofe captain had the command of the fhips fent out for intelligence a full fort- night betore, thought he had fallen in with rea- dier means than thofe contrived for this purpofe: two veflels came in fightas he failed toward Lou isbourg, which by all ma:ks and charaéters ap- peared to be a privateer. fchoone: of t!e enemy, with a frigate of Louvisbourg. The captain put himfelf in fuch pofition that they could not fcape him; and while he puriued them, difpatched the tranfport back to acquaint the governor what fortune had thrown into his way. When he came up with thefe veffels. his hopes of information vanifhed: he hadthe misfortune to find, that all his zeal and earneftnefs for the fervice had. only ferved to lead him into an error. Theveffels were an Englith privateer with aprize. What added to. this ill fortune, was, that the traniport being gone, it was impoflible for him to execute the firft intended plan. He fought by every means to repair the mifchance, and fuc- ceeded fo far, as to take a fifhing vefiel_ newly come from Louisbourg, which he. carried into Halifax. The intelligence thefe people gave, ftrengthen- ed the refolution of immediately attacking the place, and gave that {pirit and eager expectation to the forces, which rife from certainty of fu: ccfs. They confirmed in.every inftance the truth of gaptain Goram’s. frit account, as.to the fia ¢ of be things : ~~ = es * _ = +> on Dry > + [ 6h :) Silas dot things at the time when he gave it; and they repre- fented them in a’ yet fairer light for our enter prize at prefent. The ‘account * the people ob- tained from this intel! gence was, that of the four- teen fhips of ‘war feen there by captain Goram, one half were fent to Canada, the enemy ‘not having penetrated into the fecret of our purpofes, nor knowing whefe we deftined the attack. The garrifon of Louifbourg, they added, was not more than three thoufand men. | All now confpired to animate and encourage the troops ; and every meéafure was taken for the imediate execution of the great defign : the forces were embarked; the veflels ready,’ and Gaberon bay, near the harbourof Louisbourg, was appoint- ed as the rendezvous’in cafe of feparation. ) I fuppofe it will be allowed, that the attackin or not’ attacking Louisbourg muft have been in reafon determitied by the force there: what our Own ftrength was, we perfectly know ; and upon the inteilisence now {tated,there was fair reafonto promife ourfelves faccefs. ‘ Under thefe circum- {tances the attack was refolved ; and under thefe it would have been executed: but other intelli- gence arrived the next day but one; and necef- farily cecafioned other meafures. | : Captain Goram, fent out a fecond time, was not yet returned; and early on the fourth of Auguft, a French prize was brought in: fhe had been {nt from Louisbourg, and was bound to France; her bufinefs was to carry intelligence, and ihe was taken, with her papers. ~~ ® “ - Thefe [ 35 ] Thefe gave a certain‘and a true account » afpy might be deceived'; but thofe who wrote home an account of the {tate and ftrength of the place, mutt know it. ‘Mhis was certain intelligence ; the reft wasiconjecture. By this it appeared ;. that there were then in the harbour of Louisbourg twenty-nine fhips of war, feventeen of them of the line, the reit frigates; and that the forces amounted’ to’ four thoufand regulars, befide the garrifon of three thoufand before-mentioned. This changed the face of affairs abfolutely, and, with it, changed the meafures of the com- mander. Ass certain as it had been that we might attempt Louisbourg with great hopes of fuccefs, according to the former accounts ; fo plain it was that-we now could not. The ftrength of the enemy rendered the taking of the place impracticable ;_ and the general has been blamed, who therefore-declined the under- taking. This is the fair, and this the true ftate of the noble commander’s conduct: and this will, with the impartial, fet afide all cenfure. If we may credit the accounts fince that time, this ftate of the place, contained in the French papers, muft -have been true; and in that cafe it would have been rafhnefs unbecoming a general, and unju- ‘ftifiable in the higheft degree, to have giade the attempt. It appears that lord Loudon, from this and o- “ther concurrent teftimonies, found the place too - well {upported to be attacked with his force; E2 and ; ; $ py es . f A ae F . 4° 4. if iZ PB LT [ 36 j and he therefore gave up the defign for that year: leaving the glory of this important con- quett to fome fucceeding and more favourable opportnaity. He took back the forces; diftri- buted them in advantageous. ftations; and was preparing for other enrerprizes, when it pleafed the government to give the command to another, Theie are the facts relating to that undertake ing: tey are plain, certain, and notorious; there. is nothing new to the reader in. this ftate of them, for thofe who have before from time to time recorded them, have done it jaftly, From thefe the arguments are eafy, and the con- clution is certain, that lord Loudon has aéted according to the power entrufted to. him, like a brave and wife man: and that the ftate of things ce.ermined him to defer. that enterprize, in which there is no profpeét he could have {fuc- ceeded, to times in which it may perhaps be accomplifhed by another. Though whenever itis done, the publick will find, that even with inore force, and more advantages, the ftruggle wil be defperate, lf we would learn how ill reports firft rofe con- cerning the Commander; and why a man almoft adored one year, became the objeét of unfair ceniure in. another, the caufe is caly,; and they know lytle of human nature who cannot trace it without our affiftance. Our opinion of inen and, actions in tiat remote part of the world, cannot but be infl.en ed greatly by the fentiments of thule upon .h..ipot; whom we fuppole to have - more Ta By more opportunities af ede. and whofe teffi~ mony we are too apt to receive, without confiders ing the influence of their :paffions. The opinions of people in England concerning: Jord Loudon have been greatly influenced by thofe of the inhabitants of New York: perhaps it may be fair to fay, they have been derived ab folutely from them. Thofe people, like ourfelves, fet out witha high opinion of this nobleman ; and it is a point of importance to confider how they came to change it. If he would have been directed by their interefted views, or would have preferred their convenience to the fervice of the ftate, he would have had their fuffrages to thisday. We ought, inftead of adopting their unfair {uggefti- ons, to honour him for the caufes of their diftafte, If lord Loudon would have left. his foldierg without quarters, thefe people would have beeiy fatishied : if he would heve left all means open to the intelligence of the enemy, they would have made no complaints. 7 It is certain by the account of the people in the veflel taken by the Succefs, that they did not know the deftination of our forces, and that great point, the divifion of their force, had beer gained by it. This was a confequence of ‘the embargo: and it was fuch as promifed the moft certain fuccefs to our enterprize, if the fleet from England had arrived at that time, to have joined in the execution. That fleet was delayed; and it-appeats by the intelligence obtained from tbe other er — Ms baetg eae & aa ay > yee > y »~ Sh oer F a w a ee ey ae A Lore . 7 “_£ Yh DED RT BEY UT ED RN ie 7 \ - BF aT Me # . > ie 38 thier prize, that, in the sn tit time, the French had encreafed butt feven fhips to nine and twen- ty. That which was practicable againit ‘the fmaller force, was impoffible to be performed i in oppofition to the larger ; and the attack of Lou- isbourg which might have been made: at- the firft favourable time, was poftponed by the delay of our fleet, to a period when it was impratticable. T. accufe no perfon: but this accident was the caufe, and: this fingle circumftance was the reas fon we did notattack Louisbourg ata time when» probably we might have taken it. In the mean while, the people of our colonies, difgufted at the high hand with which lord Lou- don had necefiarily carried the affair of quarter ing the troops and»the embargo, fought all acca- fions of mifreprefenting his lordfhip’s condué :. accidents:in which he had no concern were ‘in their «confequences: attributed to him, as if he had caufed them;: and every meafure ithat-falfe- hood, within.the: reach of) theirlow cunning, could adopt, were ufed,.to perplex.and difturb his lordthip s councils. ‘When they were tired with the novelty of the exércife of the foldiers, they began: to complain that it was delaying bufinefs, and wafting ufeful time } though they at the fame time knew the delay was the not arriving of the expected intel- -higence, and this. was only an employment of the foldicrs till it came: ‘They firftbred thle difaffeions ; in the offi ous; of rahi: they afterwards blamed the con biG fequences ; ae SS rF 9 = fequences ; and they nie attempted to fet afide the evidence of that force in Louisbourg, whieh ‘rendered the attack impracticable, by a falfehood as infolent in the contrivance, as it was eafy of de- tection. | The ftate of the place, and ftrength of thée- nemy, on the knowledge of which the enterprizé was {ufpended, were given by the French officers themfelves, and intended’ for their fovereigni The account, on the ftrength of which they have endeavoured to invalidate it, was what they called the teftimony*of captain Goram.’ They were cunning to fix upon this name, for’ it Had crédit; and they were bold to ufe it: they had no tight to his name, when they annexed it to their fcandalons fiction. "Tis certain captain Goram was fent out a fet cond time, and that he returned with a fecond account of the ftrength of the enemy. But what that account was, they never’ knew or heard: they gave out in the place of it, ‘fuch an account as might beft fuit their own bad pur pofes ; and they produced for this the authority of a Jew, who declared he had received it from captain Goram at midnight, or before day break, ‘the day fucceeding: his arrival. | This ftory was their own, and they could ‘give it whatever circumftances would beft fuit their. purpofe. They varied nothing from that ftate of the enemy’s force, which fet it at the loweft: the Jew deciared the French had’only five thing a) Z as . ws - 40] ofthe line, and two Ag. ; and that captain Go- sam gave him that account. In the evening of the feventh of Auguft, cape tain Goram came in from his expedition, and the Jew affirmed, that he had come on fhore during the night, as.it fhould feem to tell him this news, for there does not appear any other bufinefs that could bring him: thither, and that having told him this, he returned. Added tothe improbability of this ftory, there was, proved. in it abfolute falfhood. . It was not likely that captain Goram, when he had been fent onan enterprize of fecrecy and importance, fhould come on {hore to tell what he -had feen to a poor Jew, before he gave an account of it to thofe who employed him; nor is it any more probable, that what he faw fhould contradi& what the French officers. themfelves had juft wrote home to their fovereign. Captain Goram declared the whole an utter falfity. He affured all who asked him, that he never came.afhore that night; nor then or at any other time had fpoke with the Jew upon that fubject, This was a convittion there was no withftand. ing; the ftory was given up there, though it has been ‘revived in England. [The Jew was impri- foned as an impoftor, but foon after difcharged without punifhment: the commander, whofe re- putation was intended to be hurt by this poor contrivance, being very much above fuch mean refentments, He confidered the fellow as he was, ~ the —— tS . 1 the tool of a fet of Be cige men, whom as he would not have condefcended to punifh in their own perfons, much lefs would he regard this mi- ferable inftument of their bafenefs. What account ceptain Goram really brought, can be no fecret ; if lord Loudon be {uppofed a perfon interefted in the event, it may be known fremeadmiral Hol- bourn, Thefe are the proper fources of intelligence ; and it is upon thefe and no other, we fhould found our good or bad opinion, our cenfure or applaufe of diftinguifhed perfons. There is great merit in the a@lion, when men of rank and afflu- ence ex pole themfelves to the dangers and fatigues of war for the public benefit; and we ought to look on thofe who do it with a high refpect. No rank or influence fhould fcreen the guilty from infamy or punifhment; but it becomes the pub- lic to be very fure of faéts before they form in- ‘urious fif{picions. If it become a practice to in- dulge this difingenuous and indecent conduét of railing without caufe, at all who do not fuceeed, we fhall difyutt thofe who are fit for high eme ployments; and no man will undertake the fer- vice, but he who fets no value on his reputation, Fo Fa Se eS 7 ' lil es ae 5 om STE te Qe . . aT Ty 2 ve 2 * 4 - “ 7 Yee a aaa ' x . -~ =: “er a oe RUT C “ 4 - > . n4 mz ‘~ =, : yt wr ae ee eae ees Reg - , 3 > 7 x : 7 » Nee fa G... a a oe a wert : . - ~ ‘ - : " 7 ’ ior & = \ - “ ? : : 7 ie q — aie a t ~ " : ee , i ant ae ee ~— oe ror . ) Pars . . ad - a owe a ‘. ” hee ae ° Po 7 : er ‘a ee i ee ee ee Sie Ge, ee ee he PN initio dhe Se Ted EIN Shake SS i eS a Se ee a a eee L'a Sewes- — Scale - See nse = r SS = har wap sa oe Se oe te Fae thes } ¢ 4 eT - ie tee. Oy io a ‘} &. ee ~~ ~ a ——_ 7s eee i Oe conan : { ; 7 . See) We » a ee }= tz S\ Sie : —— “ - a . o— eS oe eee ee + 5 a) Pine catten x Sis Muera a we ~ e ye Py . - Fey ' : eri S Oe 4 Te se 4 ~ : 4 \¥ J or. ~ y “9 pO AOCLIT a eee - , 4 2 a Se be * ae ie € vy oe ae © ° PP Pe , . \T Ae: Bek we ee : A ‘wu . os ‘ : La k u > OpToep o4 oun iTiS.T 3a SmaI Tt Ta iV _ ~ v7 “ Py 61 Franch and Indian. Loudon (Earl of). ‘Tne Conduct of a Noble Comuander in Iupartially Reviewed. With the Genuine Causes of the Discontents at Now Yor} Hallifax, and the True Occasion of the Delays in that Iuportant Expedition. | ing a Regular Account of all the Proceedings and Incidsnts, etc. S8vo, new ha morocco, uncut, pp. 45, London, 1758. Excesedingly Yars. a ** The last two recorded copies, not uncut, brought $33.00 and $51.00 at auction, April 1 and June é2, ig2e. This is a defense of Lord Loudon, a general whouw Pitt declared "he never heard from, and could not tell what he wag doing." On page 4 it is stated that "The people of New York hated Lord Loudon for two things; his quartering the troops among them, and the embargo on their ships; - and power changed hands in England. " It seems that the principal objection was that the majority of the troops were Hessians, and were quartered in the hoces of the New Yorkers, whether they liked it or not. On page 16 We read; - Nand New York, faithful to the disgraceful example of the mother country, would have axposed to death with as little remorse the troops this country sent thither for their protection. " (Loudon,the Earl of).The Conduct of a Noble Commander in America impartially reviewed; with the genuine Causes of the Discontents at New York and Halifax,and the true Ocoas- ion of the Delays in that important expeditionsincluding a regular Accowt of all the Proceedings, &6 e&6 « Svo,half orocco, ppe41,inserted portrait of Loudon. London,1758. $45 6 I eBhr lich Box 994 Station B Montreal Loudoun (John Campbell, Earl of). Succeeded William Shirley as Commander n © of the british forces in North America, with the additional honor of Governor of Virginia. Notoriously incapable and irresolute His attempt on Canada proved an absolute farce. He was recalled at the close of 1757 and succeeded by Lord Amherst. L. 8, 9 closely and neatly written folie pages. "Yrom on board his majesty's guise the Gatherlana 2 Sandy Hook this 9 D 1 erland a 8 Day of June 1757. A highly important letter entirel devoted to Indian affairs, addressed to Sir William Johnson and "packed" in the Baronet's own hand “Lord Loudouns Letter from on board the Suther- land rap War at Sandy Hook, June 9, 1757." | 3 Oudoun acknowledges the receipt of several of 5 : remarking that it was not in his "Power to answer Bl eget Tethers’ fully which I have received of late, but am now sit down to do it baboon I sett out from hence." (Loudoun sailed for Halifax 11 days later} ’ Loudoun is somewhat inclined to criticise Sir William's conduct: bs wee ae ars of the. ae in which the Indian Affairs were, =p. t you the horer to appoint voi Mt y and you will remember, that in all ae ee ede 2 on that subject, I have always said, that this did not appear to me to be a time when they could be brought to right entirely. That the having great meetings, at which very few or any of their principal men were present, and giving great presents to those who had no influence was a4 great expence, and answered no good purpose." Intimates that the Indians are unfaithful: "I could not look on them as our friends, whilst I found, that even those that were with us as friends the one day, were the next with the enemy." That they carried news to the enemy: “They are the most dangerous af all Spies, acting with Impunity; and that, as we had no intelligence of that sort, by the —s Indians, it was giving the Irench an advantage I could not submit Oo. Fears all the nations will join the French: “It appears to me, that at the best, the Onondages, Tuscaroras, Oneidas, and even the Mohawks I think, from your personal interest, you will be able to prevent going in Body at once to join the enemy." | Refers to his "personal interest,” meaning his connection with _ Molly Brant. e eRe __Considers that the indians are aware of their own value: Pie are necessary henefit and advantage they have reaped by the grea. expenc have for many years been at for them." Germans and Dutch to be watched: "I likewise think it very necessary that you keep a watchfull eye on the Germans and Dutch that you suspect, from the informations you have received, of carrying on a treasonable correspondence with the enemy, by means of the Indians, and of debauching the minds of those Indians; and that you do secure their persons and papers wherever you see cause." Suspects De Coine: “And here it is necessary for me to acquaint you that I have intelligence from Montreal of Letters being arriv'd there very lately, from De Coine, who lives at Schenectady; those can be for no good purpose. I should have secured him on the intelligence I have, had he not been employed by you; but I must desire you will look into this affair." Presents for the Indians to be delivered: “I have sometime ago transmitted to Major General Webb, to deliver to you an order from Sir Charles Hardy, to deliver to your order all that part of the Indian pres ents he brought over--- and now lodged at Albany." Sir William's salary: “Your application for your salary came s©0 late that I had not time to settle this; but as you have mone in your hands, by those warrants, that can make no difference till I return from Campaign, wren tl sna. rulat wou all money . cc "Se" ‘: as an assistant: "In consequence of the letter I writ at your desire z empowered if I see it necessary to appoint him to act under your in that capacity." Something for Guy Johnson: “I have received your recommend= ation of Wr. Guy Johnson, I do remember your recommending him to me formerly, but have mislaid the memorandum I then made and have forgot where I am to find him and what was the particular thing you desired me o @0 for him:" — Scneiuded with this estimate of the Indians: t_.-for till they will act offensively against the enemy I shall not think them really attached to us, or to be depended on."