turn of peace: let us befeech the Lord to change these murdering weapons into inftruments of hufbandry. Let us this day thank him for his mercies, and fupplicate him to fill up the measure of his kindness, by placing in the hearts of all his people the candour, fincerity, and fidelity, with which he has infpired the Emprefs and our august monarch."

An armament is faid to be carrying on at Toulon with the greatest diligence, the failors being taken from the privateers and merchantmen to man the King's fhips, the deftination of which is not known. They alfo told us lately, that fifteen fhips of the line were ready to put to fea from Breft with the firft fair wind. The British fecret expedition caufed a great alarm on the coaft of France for a few days, but their fears were foon over. [497-508.]

The military operations in NORTH AMERICA on the part of the British, appear to be quite fufpended. It was the general opinion, that Lord Loudon, after his junction with Adm. Holburne, would have made a descent on Cape Breton, and carried the war into the French territories; while Gen. Webb, with the forces under his command, would have fecured the forts on Lake George. The troops that came with Lord Loudon from New York, and the seven bat talions from England, were, immediately upon their arrival, landed to refresh them; and afterwards feveral fmall craft being fent to look into Louifburg, to learn the ftrength of the French, his Lordship being made to believe that the enemy were inferior to him in fhips and land-forces, on the ift and ad of Auguft imbarked the troops, to the number of 12,000, in order to make the intended defcent, even though, from what he had learned of the French force, he forefaw that his men would be much exposed on their landing. Juft when he was ready to fail, Capt. Edwards, who was ftationed at Newfoundland, having taken an advice-boat from Louif. burg for France, fent his Lordship an account, by exprefs, that the French had at Louisburg 6000 regular troops, 3000 natives, and 1500 Indians, with

Adm.

The

18 fhips of the line, and fix frigates, carrying in all 1474 guns. Upon this, in a council of war held at Halifax, Aug. 4. it was unanimously agreed, without a diffenting voice but one, that the attempt was impracticable; and fo the expedition was laid aside. Holburne's fquadron confifted but of 17 fhips of the line, five frigates, and fix floops, carrying only 1262 guns, befides the Windfor, which joined him Aug. 4. Lord Loudon, after garrifoning Halifax with three battalions, and sending two more up the bay of Fundy, failed with the reft of the troops for New York, on the 16th of Auguft. fame day Adm. Holburne, refolved himself to see the strength of the French, failed for Louifburg, with 15 fhips of the line, a 50 gun fhip, three frigates, and one firefhip. The 20th he appeared off the harbour, and approached within two leagues of the batteries, and found the aforementioned account of the enemy's ftrength to be too true. When he came nigh, the French admiral made the fignal to unmoor; but Mr Holburne, not thinking it proper to hazard a battle, failed back to Halifax. This, fays a letter from on board the Hunter floop, was the most prudent thing he could do; as, in all human probability, he must have been beaten ; which would not only have proved the lofs of the fleet, but have laid our co• lonies all open to the enemy. On the 11th of September, Adm. Holburne, being joined by two 70 and two 60 gun fhips, failed again for Louifburg. On the 17th the Hunter floop was ordered clofe in to the fhore, to reconnoitre, She ftood fo nigh, that the enemy's fhot went over her, and she found none of the enemy's fhips gone. The next day fhe was dispatched to England, and arrived at Plymouth O&t. 12. The Admiral ordered the fleet to take great care of their water; whence it was believed he would cruise off Louisburg as long as poffible; and he seemed to be eager to come to blows with the French fleet. He feveral times offered them battle, but in vain. Once he dared them to action with 16 fail of the line, 4 I 2

and

and went as near them as poffible. On which they made a fignal for weighing, and the British fleet formed line; but the French, on further thought, took in their fignal, and lay quiet. Adm. Holburne, with his fquadron, continued to cruife off Louisburg till Sept. 24. when, being ten leagues fouth of that port, towards the evening it began to blow very hard at eaft; but the wind veering round to the fouthward, it blew a perfect hurricane, and continued violent till near eleven next day. Ten fhips of the line were difmafted; of which the following eight, with Rear Adm. Sir Charles Hardy, and Com. Holmes, arrived at Spithead and Portsmouth about the beginning of November, viz. the Invincible, Grafton, Devonshire, Captain, Naffau, Sunderland, Windfor, and Eagle. The other two difmafted fhips, with the rest of the fquadron, except the Tilbury, which is thought to be loft, got into Halifax, with Adm. Holburne in the Newark. 'Tis faid, that if the ftorm had continued three hours longer, and the wind not changed, the whole British fquadron must have perished.

+

A letter from Fort Edward on Lake George, of July 12. bears, that in the afternoon of that day came in eleven of a party of thirty men who had been fent out on a fcout near the narrows, under the command of Lieut. Vanaght of the provincials; the lieutenant and the reft of the party having been killed and fcalped by the enemy. And letters from Albany, dated July 25. bear, that, on the morning of the 23d, the advanced guards at Fort Edward were attacked by a party of Indians armed with bows and arrows, who killed eight of the guards before they were discovered; that affiftance being fent to them, the In dians retreated to the woods; but that eleven of the British were killed, eight of which were fcalped, and several much wounded.

The ftrength of the French in Canada this year has been variously talked

of; some accounts computing them at 10 or 12,000; others at 3000, and thofe very fickly, and in want of provifions. But the British have felt their Arength

in a very fenfible manner. M. Montcalm the French General, knowing that Lord London, with the greatest part of the regular troops, was at Halifax, took that opportunity to march from Canada towards Lake George, about the middle of July, at the head of 10 or 11,000 men, as letters from New York gave out. On the 2d of Auguft he arrived at Fort William-Henry, which is fitua ted on the hithermoft point of the lake, in a direct line from Albany to Crownpoint, and about forty miles from the latter. This fort was garrisoned by about 2500 men, commanded by Lt Cols Monro and Young. Montcalm o pened the trenches before it on the 3d, and fent Col. Monro the following letter, of that date. "SIR, I have this morn. ing invested your place with a numerous army, a fuperior artillery, and all the favages from the higher parts of the country; the cruelty of whom a detach ment of your garrifon have lately too much experienced [426]. I am obliged in humanity to defire you to furrender your fort. I have it yet in my power to reftrain the favages, and to oblige them to obferve a capitulation, as hitherto none of them are killed; which will not be in my power in other circumstances; and your infifting on defending your fort, can only retard the lofs of it a few days, and muft of neceflity expofe an unhappy garrifon, who can receive no fuccours, confidering the precautions I have taken. Idemand a decifive anfwer immediately; for which purpose I have fent you the Sieur Funtbrune, one of my aids-de-camp. You may credit what he will inform you as from me. I am, &c.What answer Col. Monro returned to this letter, we have not heard. Gen. Webb was then at Fort Edward; and Col. Monro fent several expreffes, earnestly defiring him to march, with all the force he could collect, to his affiftance. In anfwer, he received the following letter, dated, Fort Edward, Aug. 4. twelve at noon, and which contribu ted not

little to the furrender of Fort William Henry. "SIR, I am directed by Gen. Webb to acknowledge the re ceipt of three of your letters, two bear

ing date nine o'clock yesterday morning, and one about fix in the evening, by two rangers, which are the only men that have got in here, except two yesterday morning with your firft, acquainting him that the enemy were in fight. He has ordered me to acquaint you, he does not think it prudent, as you know his ftrength at this place, to attempt a junction, or to affift you, till reinforced by the militia of the colonies; for the immediate march of which repeated expreffes have been fent. One of our fcouts brought in a Canadian prifoner laft night, from the investing party, which is very large, and have poffeffed all the grounds five miles on this fide Fort William-Henry. The number of the enemy is very confiderable, the prisoners fay 11,000, and have a large train of artillery, with mortars, and were to open their batteries this day. The General thought proper to fend you this intelligence, that in cafe he fhould be fo unfortunate, from the delays of the militia, not to have it in his power to give you timely affiftance, you might be able to make the best terms left in your power. The bearer is a ferjeant of the Connecticut forces; and if he is happy enough to get in, will bring advices from you. We keep continual fcouts going, to endeavour to get in, or bring intelligence from you. Iam, &c. G. BARTMAN, Aid-de-Camp."

Col. Monro continued to make a brifk defence till the 9th; when, many of his guns having burfted, and he having no profpect of relief, he furrendered the fort to the French, upon the following articles of capitulation, viz.

baggage of the officers and foldiers only; they fhall be escorted by a detache ment of French troops, and by fome of the officers, or interpreters attached to the favages; and to march to-morrow morning early.

II. The gate of the fort fhall be delivered up, after the capitulation is figned, to the troops of his Moft Christian Majefty; and the retrenched camp, im mediately on the departure of the Britif troops.

III. All the artillery, warlike fores, provifions, and, in general, every thing, except the effects of the officers and foldiers, fhall, upon honour, be delivered to the troops of his Moft Chriftian Majefty, as is already fpecified in the firft article; and, for that purpose, there fhall be delivered, with the capitulation, an exact inventory of all the ftores mentioned in this article. Provided always, that this article fhall extend to the fort, retrenchment, and dependencies.

IV. The garrifon of the fort, troops in the retrenchment and dependencies, fhall not ferve for the space of eighteen months, to commence from this day, neither against his Moft Chriftian Ma jefty, nor his allies; and there shall be delivered, with the capitulation, an exact state of the troops, in which shall be specified, the names of the officers, en gineers, artillerists, commiffaries, and all employed.

V. All the officers and foldiers, Ca nadians, women, and favages, which have been made prifoners by land fince the commencement of the war in North America, fhall be delivered, in the fpace of three months, at Carillon; and according to the receipt which shall ba given by the French commanding off cers to whom they fhall be delivered, an equal number of the garrifon of Fort William-Henry thall be capacitated to ferve, agreeable to the return given is by the English officer of the prifoners

he has delivered.

VI. An officer fhall be given as an hoftage, till fuch time as the detach ment returns which fhall be given for an efcort to his Britannic Majefly's troops.

VII. All the fick and wounded that

are

to Fort Edward, shall remain under the protection of the Marquis de Montcalm, who will take proper care of them, and return them as foon as recovered. VIII. Provifion for the fubfiftence of the British troops fhall be iffued for this day and to-morrow only.

IX. The Marquis de Montcalm, being willing to fhew Col. Monro, and the garrifon under his command, marks of his esteem on account of their honour able defence, gives them one piece of cannon, a fix-pounder.

Done in the trenches before Fort William-Henry, the 9th of Auguft 1757. GEORGE MONRO. Agreed to in the name of his Moft Chriftian Majefty, agreeable to the power invested in me by the Marquis de Vaudreuill, his Governor-General, and Lieutenant-General of New France.

MONTCALM.'

Thus was Fort William-Henry loft to G. Britain : "A heavy lofs," fays a letter from New York," to us for if fo confiderable an army could come fo near us, almost unobferved, when we had Fort William Henry, what may they not do, now that is demolished? Our intelligence was bad, or not properly attended to, I can't tell which." Crown-point, fays the Gentleman's Magazine, is an object our Americans have had their eyes upon ever fince the commencement of the war; but inftead of making themfelves mafters of it, they have fhamefully fuffered Fort William Henry, the key to the lakes, to be taken from them by wilful neglect.

The French court has published a relation of this affair, by which it appears, that Montcalm's force confifted of 5500 regular troops and militia, and 1800 favages; that the British had about 3000 men, part in the fort, and part in an intrenched camp, which being not above 400 yards from them, could have continually fupplied the garrifon with fresh troops; that the French had but 13 killed and 40 wounded, and the British 108 killed and 250 wounded; that

23 pieces of cannon, fome of which were thirty-two-pounders, 4 mortars, 1 obufier, 17 pattereroes, 36,000 weight of powder, a quantity of bullets, bombs, and granades, and all forts of ammoni tion, and utenfils for the artillery; that the French alfo found a confiderable quantity of provifions, notwithstanding the plunder made by the favages; and that Montcalm had deftroyed the fort and all its appurtenances.

A letter from New York, of Aug. 24. gives the following account of this affair. "The zift of July, Col. Parker, of the New Jersey regiment, with three of his companies, and two companies of the New York regiment, went from Fort William-Henry, in order to make an excurfion by water on Lake George [426.]. The next day they unhappily fell into an ambush of the French, who with a large body, it seems, were proceeding towards our fort. They were moftly furrounded, and with difficulty 150 efcaped out of 350, of which the party confifted. But it is fince faid, upwards of 100 of them were taken prisoners, and it is fuppofed only about go were killed. On the Colonel's return to the fort, Gen. Webb was informed of it: but he did not credit the report of fo large a body coming against them, till the 2d of Auguft, when their scouts discovered them upon the lake. That night Gen. Webb was for going off himself to Fort Edward, and could hardly be prevailed on to tarry till the next morning; when he marched off early with a strong guard, leaving the de fence of Fort William-Henry to Col. Monro and Col. Young, with about 2300 men. The French landed the 2d, and the Indians furrounded the breaft-works of the English, whilst the French hove up trenches; but the gar rifon, by the brifknefs of their fire, re tarded the enemy's works confiderably for the first three or four days. During this time, all our cannon and mortars, except two nine-pounders, one fourpounder, and a hawitzer, bursted. Col. Monro behaved with courage; and had the militia come timely to his aid, or

rather