epair thither
with all possible diligence, in order to take upon him the command of
the expedition; but a variety of accidents interposed. It was with the
utmost difficulty he at length assembled a body of six thousand men,
with which he instantly began his march to join the troops lately
arrived from England. When the junction was effected, the whole forces
amounted to twelve thousand men; an army that raised great expectations.
Immediately some small vessels were sent out to examine and reconnoitre
the condition of the enemy, and the intermediate time was employed in
embarking the troops as soon as the transports arrived. The return
of the scouts totally altered the face of affairs: they brought the
unwelcome news, that M. de Bois de la Mothe, who sailed in the month of
May from Brest, with a large fleet of ships of war and transports, was
now safe at anchor in the harbour of Louisbourg. Their intelligence
AAras supported by the testimony of several deserters; yet still it
wanted confirmation, and many persons believed their account of the
enemy's strength greatly magnified. Such advices, however, could not but
occasion extraordinary fluctuations in the councils of war at Halifax.
Some were for setting aside all thoughts of the expedition for that
season; while others, more warm in their dispositions, and sanguine in
their expectations, were for prosecuting it with vigour, in spite of
all dangers and difficulties. Their disputes were carried on with great
vehemence, when a packet bound from Louisbourg for France, was taken by
one of the English ships stationed at Newfoundland. She had letters on
board, which put the enemy's superiority beyond all doubt, at least
by sea. It clearly appeared, there were at that time in Louisbourg six
thousand regular troops, three thousand natives, and one thousand three
hundred Indians, with seventeen ships of the line and three frigates
moored in the harbour; that the place was well supplied with ammunition,
provisions, and every kind of military stores; and that the enemy wished
for nothing more than an attack, which it was probable would terminate
to the disgrace of the assailants, and ruin of the British affairs
in America. The commanders at Halifax were fully apprized of the
consequences of an unsuccessful attempt; it was, therefore, almost
unanimously resolved to postpone the expedition to some more convenient
opportunity, especially as the season was now far advanced, which
alone