V.

CHAP. eft Advantage we have hitherto gained by the War, and it is to be hoped we shall not lofe any Opportunity of improving that Advantage.

A Clandeftine

BEFORE I finish this Chapter, it may not be amiss to add in this Place fome of the Mischiefs or Difadvantages attending the liland of Cape Breton, whilst it was poffeffed by the French; which are now entirely obviated, and may for the future be prevented, or rather will naturally cease, as long as we keep Poffeffion thereof. These Disadvantages arise from a deftructive Clandeftine Trade carried on between our Settlements on the Continent of America, and the French at Cape Breton, to the great Detriment of Trade in general, and to the Support of our common Enemy.

THIS Clandefine Trade, carried on Trade for from most of the English Settlements merly carried on between our between Virginia, and Nova Scotia, conSettlements fifted in the furnishing of Cape Breton and Cape with Warlike Stores and Provifions of the Breton, Plantation Produce, For this Purpose, near an Hundred Sail of decked Veffels

were

were every

V.

Summer employed in tranfport- CHA P. ing Tar, Pitch, Turpentine, Rofin, Timber, Plank and Boards : As alfo Beef, Pork, Butter, Cheefe, Bread, Flower, Cy der, Apples, Onyons, Corn, Horfes, live Cattle of all Kinds, and great Quantities of Cabinet Makers Goods, to our Rivals in Trade. By thefe means the French not only conftantly fupplied their Fishery in this Neighbourhood, but alfo had fuch a Surpluffage, that from hence they supplied their Weft Indian Hlands with these Articles. Nay the English many times fo glutted the Markets, that they were frequently obliged to fell at Cape Breton, at a Price under what the Goods had coft them at home: And in this Cafe their Advantage was to be made on their Smuggling Goods into our Colonies at their Return. For these People were chiefly paid in Brandy, Wine, Oyl, Sailcloth, Cordage, Iron, Rum, Molaffes, Sugar, Coffee, Indigo,Drugs, East India Goods, &c. the Manufactures, Product, or Trade of Old and New France; which they fold: again clandeftinely among our own Colonies at their Return. This double AdVantage was fo great to the French, that

though

V.

CHA P. though the Traffick between the two Nations was feemingly prohibited; yet they not only winked at, but encouraged it; as they have always done the Exportation of Wool from hence. Hereby is fully verified (by the Event) that Part of the Memorial presented by Mefs" Raudot, wherein they alledge, That by these means we should draw a great deal of Money out of thofe Colonies, even though the Entry of * Vide p. 71. our Goods fhould not be openly permitted. * It has been affirmed that our Clandestine Traders went fo far, as to Barter Warlike Stores and Provifions, and even Veffels and Ships of all Dimenfions, from 50 to 400 Tons, against the Commodities abovementioned, which they had from the French; feveral of which Articles, viz. the meaneft of their Rum, Molaffes, and Sugar, the French would have found no other Vent for, had not our People thus taken them off their Hands: they must otherwise have been let out to run down their Streets; as has been (if I am rightly informed) fully proved at the Bar of the House of Commons, Now from this Practice, it is evident, that the French were supplied with Pro

vifions,

V.

vifions, &c. for carrying on their Fishery, CHA P. at a much cheaper, eafier, and more certain Rate, than they otherwife could be: By which means, they were enabled to underfell us in that Commodity, whereever they came.

THIS Inland was likewife the Place of Rendezvous for all the French Ships that paffed to and from Old France; and the Eaft as well as Weft Indies, the South Seas, or on any occafion croffing the Western Ocean. Their Ships in like manner, coming home from any of their Sugar Islands, and being obliged to ftand to the North-west, for the Benefit of the Gulph Stream and North Shore Winds, could venture to leave their Ports with little or no Provifions, being affured of finding Abundance at Cape Breton, thus clandeftinely brought thither from our Colonies as above mentioned.

CHAP.

CHAP.

VI.

The fhort time taken

CHA P. VI.

A Summary Relation of the Siege of Lewisburg: With a short Account of Mr. William Vaughan's particular Behaviour in the Expedition of Cape Breton.

I

HAD here defigned to have given the Publick the beft Accounts I could have picked up, of the Siege of Lewisburg, and the taking the Island of Cape Breton But, having met with the Pamphlet before quoted, containing a Journal of those Transactions, I fhall not here trouble the Reader with a literal Repetition of what therein seems to be pretty exactly done, and by Authority; but only give a Summary Account of the Whole, and add some Circumstances, which, though not totally omitted, are there but lightly touched upon.

IT is obfervable, from the beforefor putting the Enter- mentioned Journal, dat never was an prize in exe- Enterprize of fo much Difficulty, Danger,

cution.

and