d the parliament
of Paris, occasioned by the obstinacy of the clergy of that kingdom,
who seemed determined to support the church, in all events, against the
secular tribunals, and as much as possible to enforce the observance
of the bull Unigenitus, which had long been the occasion of so many
disputes among them. However, the parliament continuing firm, and the
French king approving of its conduct, the ecclesiastics thought proper
to submit for the present, and in their general assembly this year,
granted him a free gift of sixteen millions of livres, which he demanded
of them--a greater sum than they had ever given before, even in time of
war.

AFFAIRS OF THE ENGLISH IN AMERICA.

In the beginning of this year the assembly of Massachusetts Bay in New
England, passed an act prohibiting all correspondence with the French at
Louisbourg; and early in the spring they raised a body of troops, which
was transported to Nova Scotia, to assist lieutenant-governor Laurence
in driving the French from the encroachments they had made upon that
province. Accordingly, towards the end of May, the governor sent a large
detachment of troops, under the command of lieutenant-colonel Monckton,
upon this service; and three frigates and a sloop were despatched up
the bay of Fundy, under the command of captain Rous, to give their
assistance by sea. The troops, upon their arrival at the river
Massaguash, found the passage stopped by a large number of regular
forces, rebel neutrals, or Acadians, and Indians, four hundred and
fifty of whom occupied a block-house, with cannon mounted on their side
of the river; and the rest were posted within a strong breast-work of
timber, thrown up by way of outwork to the block-house. The English
provincials attacked this place with such spirit, that the enemy were
obliged to fly, and leave them in possession of the breast-work; then
the garrison in the block-house deserted it, and left the passage of the
river free. From thence colonel Monckton advanced to the French fort of
Beau-Sejour, which he invested, as far at least as the small number of
his troops would permit, on the twelfth of June; and after four days
bombardment, obliged it to surrender, though the French had twenty-six
pieces of cannon mounted, and plenty of ammunition, and the English had
not yet placed a single cannon upon their batteries. The garrison was
sent to Louisbourg, on condition of not bearing arms in America for the
space of s