II.] OUR more near and especial dangers in North-America,—in these particulars.—

1. In the last winter and early spring, the French with the utmost app [...]e [...] [...]itted out at Brest and Rochfort, the grea­test and most powerful armament against these Northern Colonies, that was ever sent into North America: Having twenty men of war▪ a hundred transports, about eight thou­sand disciplined tro [...]ps with veteran officers, and vast quantities of provision, powder, [...]ot, arms, vannon, bombs and mortars, sufficient to take the strongest places.

2. They were all under one commander of figure, duke D' Anville; a nobleman of ability, skill and courage; who came with resolution to exert himself to his own ho­nor▪ and to the glory of his king and nation, or die in the cause: And the whole armament and all their officers, both naval and terrene being united under him, had a na­tural tendency to prevent contention, and promote the execution of every order.

3. They [...] they had the best plans and many skilful pilots with th [...], well acquainted with all the coasts and harbours of Newfoundland, Cape Breton, Nova-Scotia, and N [...] England; in particular of L [...]uisbourgh, C [...]nso, Jebu [...]ta, Annapolis, Casco Bay, Boston, &c.

[Page 4]4 They came with the very exciting motives, both of resentment, policy and necessity.—Of resentment; for our saving Annapolis and disapp [...]in [...]ing the French invasion there in 1744; and for our taking Louisb [...]urgh destroying the fishery, block [...]ng up the Bay of St. L [...]wrence, and taking their great man of war, and their East India and South S [...]a ships, in 1745: —Of policy, to recover their lost fortified city and harbour of Louisbourgh, their lost opportunity by their privatee [...]s thence to seize our vessels, their lost fish­ery with the inf [...]ite profits thence arising their lost fort and harbour of Annapolis ▪ their lost territory of Nova-Scotia, and their lost reputation both in Europe and Ameri­ca ▪ especially among the Indian savages▪ And lastly of Necessity, to save their Canada with all their settlement [...] and trade, in North America; and either by taking Cape-Breton ▪ oblige us to come to a peace and save their en­croachments in the Netherlands; or by taking Annapolis o­blige us to return C [...]pe Breton and to save themselves from ignominious [...]a [...]h or ruin, in case they return [...] without taking the one or the other.

5. That which rendered our case more dangerous was, that we were a long while wholly ignorant of their de­signs against us▪ and when we had them hinted we were easy with hearing that admiral Martin was bl [...]cking them up, first at Brest and then at Rochfort, and that we had a powerful fleet of men of war and transp [...]rts preparing at Portsmouth in England, to come on the expedition to Canada.

6. At length they got out of Brest and sailed to Rochfort: On June 11 they sailed from this last port▪ pass [...]d by ad­miral Martin's squadron unobserved, and he could not find what way they were gone: Yea, while they were coming to­ward us admiral Lestock, with his fleet at Portsmouth, sailed seven times from England; and was as oft drove back by con­trary winds 'till Mid September, when our enemies fleet was come to Nova Scotia, and the British-ministry judging it too late in the year, diverted their enterprize.

7. In the mean time: while duke D' Anville's fleet is coming a fatal illness sweeps away many of our New Eng­land soldiers a [...] Cape Breton: And being now without any help from England, or any where else; if GOD had given [Page 5] our foes a speedy passage, and had brought them on in health to Lou [...]sbourgh; they had come there with surprize: And with their showers of bombs from twenty five mortars. and cannon sh [...]t from fifty brass field pieces, it seem [...] highly probable, they would soon have taken the place. And then Placentia and St. John's in Newfoundland, with all their fish and vessels would have been as nothing to them. All the French and Indians in Nova Scotia, and the neigh­bouring places would have joined them at once, and made them ten or twelve thousand strong, besides their seamen; Annapolis would have been soon reduced, and then their mighty and triumphant forces, both French and Indians ▪ both by land and sea, would have doubtless come quick all along our Eastern shores, carried all before them like a sweeping deluge; and where they cou'd be stop'd, and whe­ther this town cou [...]d have baffled them GOD only knows.

8. In the mean time we are this Summer exceedingly mo­lested with our Indian Ene [...]ies [...] about, both in th [...] and the neighbouring Provinces: Murthering our men, women, children: carrying many into a barbarous cap­tivity; breaking up many houses and divers villages and new towns, destroying cattle and fields of corn; yea s [...] ­ven hundred French and Indians destroying a fort an hun­dred foot square on ou [...] western borders on August 19: Re­ducing us to such distresses as have not been known in the present generation; And Sep. 2. we are informed, that a­bout two thousand French and Indians were assembled at Menis in Nova Scotia, in order to besiege Annapolis.

9. Our trouble is yet increased by our surprising intelli­gence from the six valiant nations of Mokaw [...] Indians above our western borders, who had been our constant friends from the beginning of these Colonies:—That the French had made them believe, they had taken an English letter, where­in they pretend we wrote, ‘We intended first to subdue Canada, and then destroy the Indian Nations, the French in Canada being the only obstacles that hinder us:’ Which made most dangerous impressions on them, raised their jea­lous [...]s began an alienation, disposed them to j [...]in our Ene­mies, and was like to lead to fatal consequences.

10 All this while we were wholly ignorant of the French [...]el coming towards us— till at the same time, viz▪ Sep. [...]. [Page 6] we had a hint in a letter from Hall in England ▪ of June [...]4. by a ship from Newcastle, that they were [...] ship days before, but none knew whither; S [...]pt 9. [...] from Liverpool was the hint above consumed [...] ma­ny in England thought them bound for No [...]th [...]merica A­bout a week after we begin to he [...]r a ru [...]our of [...] number of ships seen near Cape S [...]ble Shore; but whe [...] [...] French or English, we are at a loss to guess. About a [...] after the rumour is confirmed; but wh [...] they are [...] uncertain, 'till Sept. 28: And then by express from g [...]v [...]r­nor Kn [...]wles and admiral Tow [...]nshend at Lou [...]sbourg, we are in­form'd they are the French [...]rmada ▪ were seventy sail when they came from France; fourteen being s [...]ips o [...] the line from fifty to seventy four guns, two [...]re ships with eight thousand troops on board; standing for Je [...]cta or le Have ▪ And by a vessel from Jamaica, that the four French men of war which had escaped com [...]do [...]e M [...]ch [...]l near Domingo, were design'd to join them.

11. And lastly, about Mid September, eight ships of the line and about forty others arrive at Jeb [...]cta, the port of their rendezvous, on the south eastern shore of Nova Scotia, one of the finest harbours of the globe; i [...], which the Bri­tish nation had utterly neglected for a course of thirty years from the peace of Utrecht, to settle one inhabitant; and in the very way to interrupt all our fishery, and even all the trade from Great Britain, Ireland, Newfoundland and Cap [...] Breton, to the colonies on the [...]ain, and from these to them: There they water, wood, refresh, ca [...]een, re [...]it▪ thence take our ships, strike surprize and terror through the countries round about them. And thence deserting their design of attempting Louisbourg, they set sail with all their power towards us.

And thus, in the room of our long look'd for friend [...] from England to go against Canada, there are now coming on a powerful armament of resolute enemies; and none to prevent them or defend us against them. We look for our powerful friends, but our e [...]es fail us▪ and we look in vain. Our case seems like that of David, Psalm [...]42 and 3. ‘We look on our right hand and behold; but there is no man that knows us, refuge fai [...]s us, no man seems to [...]are for our souls: We cry unto thee, O Lord! Thou art our refuge and portion in the land of the living! O attend [Page 7] to our Cry▪ for we are brought very low —we [...]retch forth our Hands to Thee! — hear us speedily, O Lord:—Cause us to hear thy Loving-kindness in the Morning, for in Th [...]e do we trust—Deliver us O LORD from our Enemies▪ —We flee to Thee to hide us!’ And we further cried as A [...]p [...] in Psa [...]m 83: ‘Keep not thou silence▪ O GOD! Hold [...] thy Peace and be not still. O GOD! For so thine Ene­ [...] [...] a Tumult and they that hate Thee lift up the [...] ▪ They have taken crafty Cou [...]cil against thy Peo­ple: [...]hey hav [...] said, "Come and let us cut them off from b [...]ing a People, that the Name of New-England may be no more in Remembrance." O our GOD, make them as Stubble before the Wind: As the Fire burneth the Woods, and as the Flame se [...]te [...]h the Mountains on Fire▪ [as we often see in America] so pers [...]e them with thy Tem­pest, and [...] afraid with thy Storm: Fill their Faces with Sh [...]me; th [...] they may seek thy Name, O LORD! [or if they will not seek it] let them be con­founded and troubled forever: That Men may know, that Thou, whose Name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most High over all the Earth,’ &c.

This is Part of our late dangerous Circumstances: And now, stand still and see the Salvation of the LORD!

On two Accounts in general, though widely different▪ both the last Year and this have been as remarkable as any we have seen, since the happy Accession of the Protestant House of Hanover to the British Crown: — The last Year, 1745▪—for GOD's succeeding our Enterprize in a wond­rous Manner, and giving us Cape Breton;—and This,— for his working wonderful Salvation for us, while we could only stand still and see them with Admiration:—Let this be ever the Character of 1746.

While we knew nothing of Danger, GOD beheld it, and was working Salvation for us. And when we had none to help in America, He even prevented our Friends in Europe from coming to succour us; that we might see our Sal­vation was His Work alone, and that the Glory belongs entirely to Him.

And here are the the following Things observable—

[Page 8]1. That our enemies fleet were detained so long in [...] [...]arbours of France, even to the 11th of June, though ready long before: Whereby a greater Fome was prepared fo [...] scorbuti [...]al Weaknesses and A [...]ls, before they arrived at A­merica ▪ whereby they also lost the cooler Weather and more easterly Winds of the Spring, were kept for the Calms and Heat of the Summer, their Voyage must be lengthened, and they could not come with quite so much Surpriz [...] upon us.

2. That after their getting clear from the Coast of France, they should be led to bear so far to the South­ward: Whereby they not only went from the straite [...] Course, but likewise into a more rari [...]ed Air and calmer Latitudes, which yet further served to lengthen their Voyage: And whereby they also went into more sultr [...] Climates, even in the hottest Months of the Summer; the Air between decks among so great a Number so closely stowed, must be more suffocating, putrid and nauseous▪ and both further weaken, and breed Diseases.

3. That partly by these Means, partly by Calms, and partly by contrary Winds▪ their Voyage was so lengthened out, even to ninety Days from Rockfort, that it wa [...] the 9th of September before the forwardest of them a [...] ­rived at Jebucta.

4. That by the Means above, and it may be others, GOD was pleased to [...]sit them with such a mortal Si [...]kness [...] that they owned, Th [...]rteen Hundred died at Se [...], and most of the rest were extreamly weakened, wasted and dispirited.

5. That by terrible Storms they were likewise so disper­sed in the midst of the Ocean; that by Aug. 26. they had left but twelve ships of the line and forty one others, be­sides five Prizes they happened to meet with.

6. That on Sept. 2. at one at Noon, when they came near the Shoals of the Is [...]e of Sables, the most dangerous Place in all their Passage, and had but three Days Sail to Jebucta; GOD was pleased to raise against them such a violent Storm of Wind, which held all that Day and Night: Wherein one of their Transports was lost on the Shoals; four Ships of the Li [...] and a Transport were seen in [Page 9] great distress, and never heard of after, and the rest of the fleet had like to have run on the shoals in that terrible night, and were wholly dispersed: Or if they had been but three days earlier, they had got to Jebucta before the storm.

7. The weather after the storm, was so very foggy for several days, that Duke D'Anville, their Admiral and Ge­neral was obliged to lie off and on, not venturing to ap­proach the Nova Scotia shore; that it was Sept. 12, before he got, with but one more ship of the line, viz. his Vice Ad­miral, three more men of war and five transports, into Jebucta [...] There being but one of the fleet got in three days before him and but three more in three days after him; his Rear Admiral with ten of the line, and all the rest yet missing. And finding his few ships so shattered, so many men dead, so many sickly, and no more of his fleet come in; he sunk into discouragement, and Sept. 15, died; but in such a condition, and so much swell [...]d, it was generally thought h [...] poisoned himself, and was buried without any ceremony. Upon which their government fell upon the Council of war, their union was entirely broken, and their counsels grew divided.

8. That though after the storm, the Rear Admiral with f [...]e more of the line, and twenty seven more of the fleet, besides the prizes, discovered each other and gathered to­gether; yet the weather being foggy and thick, they did not arrive at Jebucta until the day after Duke D'Anville died—or their arrival two days sooner might have revived his spirits, and saved his life: Though they were so exceed­ingly shattered and fickly, they were forced to stay and loose their fittest time for doing us mischief, until near the midst of October.

9. That upon the death of the Duke, the Vice Admiral Estou [...]nell, being the chief commander, in consideration of the deplorable case they were in, proposed to return to France to save the rest of the men: But the council of war opposing and voting against him, he was on Sept. 19. in the morning, found in his apartment fallen on his sword, and the next morning died also: Whereby the chief com­mand devolved on the R [...]ar Admiral Jonquire, who with the council of war, resolved to attack some English place [Page 10] in these northern parts, before they would think of re [...] ­ing. In the mean while, they landed their men to refresh them: And yet their sickness so prevailed, that they owned there died eleven hundred and thirty more at Jebucta, before they left it.

10. It was also very remarkable, that while the French were so generally very sickly, and so many constantly dy­ing, both aboard and ashore; our English captives, though compassionately tending upon and helping them continu­ally, were so universally heal [...]hy and strong, that the poor sickly French could not forbear to express their wonder: Our people taken captive by them being more merciful to them than those of their own nation. And yet the sickness spread among our enemy Indians in Nova Scotia, and it is said car­ried off near half their number.

11. In the mean time our careful Governor sends out spies and gets intelligence — By the help of GOD removes the jealousies of the Mohawk Indians, renews our ancient league of friendship with them, engages them on our side a­gainst the French Canadians—sends companies of soldiers, who listed volunteers for Canada, to help defend Annopo [...]; Admiral Warren sends his 50 gun ship also: And then our Governor calls in most of the regiments of this province, to defend our capital, who come in with wondrous chear­fulness: Sends express to Governor Knowles, and Admi­ral Townsend, at Louisbourg, with the London prints, in­forming of Admiral Lestock's waiting for a [...]air wind in England with eighteen ships of the line, to sail [...]ither: And Octo. 6, with advice of his Majesty's council, and at the de­sire of the House of Representatives, orders Thursday the 16th a day of Fasting and Prayer through the Province on this great occasion.

12. About October 10, the French council at Jebucta being sensible that by dispersing storm [...] and wasting sick­ness, they are utterly disabled for attempting Lo [...]isbourg, resolved to sail and take Annapolis. And if they had staid but one week longer they would have had a season of suita­ble weather for it. But a cruizer of their's having hap­pily taken the express above for Louis [...]ourg with the Lon­don prints, informing of Admiral Lestock's expected coming, and the master of the vessel happily forgetting to [...] [Page 11] his order and throw his packets overboard; they were carried into Jebucta, and opened on the 11th early in the morning in a council of war. Upon which, surprized in the utmost hurry, they pull down all their ten [...]s, burn a [...]ine of battle ship, with a snow from Carolina, a vessel from Antigua, and some fishing schooners, embark their soldiers; order two thousand French and Indians to march from Menis to Annapolis:—An [...] October 13, with about forty fail, twenty engineers, and thirty pilots from near Anna­polis ▪ they came out to go round Cape Sables, and meet them there; having wrote to the court that they deter­mined to keep the seas until Nov. 15▪ N. S. if they could not get in sooner.

13. The next day, they seat three or four of their fleet, with their sick to France: The distemper still increasing, our captives saw them throwing their dead out of most of their s [...]ips into the sea, every day after they left Jebucta, for three days they continued with them. October 15, near the Isle of Sables, a second time came on a great and cold storm, which scattere [...] them again: Yet the next day, get­ting once more together; and persevering in their purpose, they dismissed our captives, who that night left them lying by, and saw them no more.

14. But the same day, viz. Thursday Octo. 16, is kept the day of general Fasting and Prayer throughout the chur­ches in this province, on this great emergency. And that very night ensuing, the glorious GOD entirely baffled all their purposes, and put a total end to their mischievous en­terprize. He mightily arose, and wrought a full salvation for us. He sent a more serious storm of wind and rain and hail, than ever—which held to the next day noon— which they could not stand before—which so dispersed and broke them, they could never get together again: And several ships were so crazy, and weakly ha [...]ded, that it is apprehended by our dismiss [...]d captives, who were in the same storm, that some were overset, some oth [...]rs foundered and sunk in the mighty waters And the remaining men of war in view, so shattered and di [...]couraged, that they determined for the West India Islands ▪ and sent their No [...]a Scotia pilots home, with orders to the French and Indian army who had march'd to Annapolis, to leave their [...]nter­ [...] and get away. The scattered remnants, it seems [Page 12] most likely, are gone back to France, abased and con­founded.

In fine. It is also remarkable, that two French frigates who privately came to Jebucta in May or June to gather the French and Indians in all the neighbouring Countries, and raised their mighty Expectations; should [...]ail from thence a little before the fleet's arrival:—That the four large men of war who escaped Commodore Mitchel near Domingo, and sailed to the Gape Sable shore, in full expec­tation of finding them; but surprized to hear nothing of them and in growing late in the year, should sail away but a few days before the Duke's arrival, and entirely miss them:—And that a few days after the fleet sailed from Jebucta, arrived there two more men of war from France, with absolute orders to take Annapolis, and not presume to return without it: And being told they were gone for the purpose, made haste after them: But arriving thither, and instead of the triumphing fleet and army, the Menis pilots returning with the dreadful tidings, and our men of war there going to attack them; confounded also, they hastened away.

Thus, when on our solemn day of general Prayer we expresly cried to the LORD, as in Psal. lxviii.1.2. ‘Let GOD arise, let his enemies be scattered; let them that hate him flee before him: As smoak is driven away, so drive thou them away: As wax melteth before the fire. so let the (inveterate) wicked perish at the presence of God!’ —When notwithstanding all the displays of his anger against them▪ he see them set upon mischief:— ‘And when he looked, and there was none to help us, and he wondered there was none to uphold us:—Then his arm brought salvation to us, and his fury upheld him: He trode down our enemies in his anger, he made them drunk in his fury, and he brought down their strength to the earth Terrors took hold on them as Waters:— A tempest bore them away in the night—The east wind carried them away and they departed: And with a storm he hurled them out of their place.’

The French officers told one of our masters—that when they came from Rochfort, they were ninety seven sail, thirty of which were men of war: That they had forty thousand arms with proportionable ammunition and blankets for the Indians; and the master saw above a hundred chests of arms with a great quantity of lead landed out of one ship of thirty guns which took him: That there were seven thousand North American French and Indians to join them: That upon their taking Annapolis, they expected righteo [...] French ships of the line, and seventy two Spanish men of war would be sent early in the spring to join [Page 14] the fleet on these coasts; which was a matter generally believed and depended upon among them: That they were resolved to destroy the frontier settlements of the English Colonies, and had a great depend [...]nce on getting a strong footing on this part of the North American Con­tinent.