CHAP.

III.

More parti

He afterwards proceeds to describe more particularly fome of the above Ports, fuch as that of Lewisburg, and that of St. Anne or Port Dauphin.

AFTER the Ceffion of Placentia and Acadia to the Crown of England, it is certain that the French had no other Place where they could dry their Fish, or even fish in Safety, but the Island of Cape Breton: they were therefore drove by Neceffity to settle an Establishment there, and to fortify it.

upon

THEY began by changing its Name, cular Defcrip- and called it l'Ifle Royale. They next detion of Port Lewi.burg. liberated the Choice of a proper place to fettle the General Quarters in; and they were for a long time divided between Lewisburg and Port Dauphin. It has been already faid that the former is one of the finest Harbours in all America that it has near four Leagues in Circumference; that there is Anchorage all over it, in Six or Seven Fathoms Water; that the Anchorage is good, and that one may run a Ship aground in the Mud,

with

without Danger. It's Entrance is not CHA P.' two Hundred Fathoms wide, between III. two little Islands, which may easily defend it. The Cod-Fishing is there very abundant, and one may fifh there from the Month of April, to the End of December. But then it was faid that the Land about this Port is barren; and that it would coft immense Sums to fortify it; because all the Materials must be brought a great way. Befides which, it had, it seems, been remarked that there was no fandy bottom in this Harbour, for more than about forty fishing Veffels.

IT has likewife been observed that the Port St. Anne, or Dauphin, has a fure and fafe Road for Ships, at its Entrance, amongst the Islands of Cibou; and that a Neck of Land almoft entirely fhuts up the Port, leaving a Paffage for no more than one Veffel at a time. This Port, thus shut up, has near two Leagues Cir-cular DefcripMore particumference in an oval Form: Ships may tion of Port here come as near as they please to the Dauphin.

Land; and the Mountains which furround it, keep off the Winds in such a manner, that they are hardly felt.

I 2

They who

were

III.

CHA P. were for chufing this Port for the Chief Settlement, alledged that it might be rendered impregnable at an easy rate; that more might be done here for two thoufand Livres, than at Lewisburg for two Hundred Thousand; because every thing neceffary for building a large City, and fortifying it, was at hand. It is further certain that the fandy Bottom is as extenfive here, as at Placentia; that the Fishing is very good; that there is a great Quantity of excellent Timber about this Place, fuch as Maple, Beach, and wild Cherry tree, but above all Oaks of above thirty feet high, fit for building, &c. It is likewise true, that Marble is here very common; that the Lands are generally good; that about the great and fmaller Entrances of Labrador, which are but at the Distance of a League and half, the Soil is very good, In a word, this Port is but four Leagues diftant from the Bay des Espagnols, which is likewife a very good Harbour, where the Lands are excellent, and covered with Woods fit for almost all Uses. It is true that here is no fishing in fmall Boats, on account of the wefterly Winds, which generally blow

here;

here; but one may fish here, as at New- CH A P. England in large ones.

THE Only Inconveniency of Port St. Anne, is, that the Entrance is difficult: and this Inconveniency alone determined the Controverfy in Favour of Lewisburg ; where neither Pains nor Expence have been Spared to render it both convenient and impregnable.

III.

THE Island of St. John, which is Description of near Cape Breton is the largeft of all thofe St John's in the Gulph of St. Laurence. It has the land.

с

Advantage, in this refpect, even of Cape Breton, that all the Land is here good and fertile. It is about twenty-two Leagues long, and fifty in Circumference: It has a fure and convenient Port, and was formerly covered with Timber of all kinds.

UNTIL a Settlement was made at Cape Breton, no body minded St John's Ifland; but the Neighbourhood of these two Ilands, foon convinced the Settlers, that they might be of great Ufe to each other.

CHAP.

CHAP.
III.

CHA P. IV.

The Advantages to the English Nation, arifing from the Conqueft of Cape Breton.

N the Course of this Chapter, I intend

IN

FIRST, to collect the most authentick Accounts I can meet with, of the Use the French made, or intended to make, of this lfland of Cape Breton; as well in promoting their own Trade and Benefit, as in curbing and diftreffing our's.

SECONDLY, to fhew how much the Tables are turned upon them, by its being in the Poffeffion of the King of Great Britain, and his Subjects, if the Greatest Advantage that may be, is made of this Acquifition,

As to the First; it will beft appear, from an Extract of a long Memorial pre

fented