I AM not half fo ambitious of becoming an Author, as defirous, upon all Occafions, of bearing Teftimony to the Truth, and being of fome Use to my Country, and Friends : Yet I flatttr myself, that the Publick will not be difpleafed to find fome Things berein collected, which have not hitherto been generally known, or attended to. IF our Share of the World reaps any Benefit from this Effay, all the Ends propofed in it by me, are fully anfwered; and the Faults which are found in it, may probably be the Occafion of its being handled in a better and more correct Manner by fome abler Pen. This would be fo far from giving me the leaft Uneafiness, that I should truly rejoice in my having been the happy Inftrument of fo much Good to a Nation, whofe real Interefts I have at Heart, as much as any other Perfon, of my Rank and Station, in it. THE THE CONTENTS. CHA P. I. An Extract of fuch Articles of the Treaty of Utrecht, as refpect the English Na- tion, particularly in regard to America : CHAP IN. Some Accounts of Canada, and the Affairs of the English Colonies in its Neighbour- A Summary Relation of the Siege of Lewif burg: With a Short Account of Mr. William Vaughan's particular Behaviour in the Expedition of Cape Breton, p. 122 CAHA P. VILDU V A true State of New England, in regard to its Power and Riches, as well as Af- have been, read has been. p. 49. 1. 9. Time of Ward P54. 1. 4. Pephaps, [1] THE Importance and Advantage OF CAPE BRETON, &c: CHAP. I. An Enquiry into the Title by Conqueft, of the European Nations, to their Poffeffions or Territories in America. I N treating of the Importance and Ad- CHAP. vantages of CAPEBRETON to the Crown of England, I thought it might not be difagreeable to the Reader, firft to enquire into the feveral Titles by Conqueft, which each European Nation has to the Territories it poffeffes in America: And by fearching B into I. CHA P. into the Titles of that Nature, it appears, I. that very few of them deferve the Name of Conquests. Most of them are founded The Manner upon bare Discoveries, and landing upon in which most an unknown Coast, which was either quite of the Conuninhabited, or peopled with Savages, who America were upon the first Appearance of large Ships, made. and of Men of a different Complexion, in quests in another kind of Drefs, and armed in an unufual manner, generally fled from the Shores, retired into the Mountains, and endeavoured to fecure their Perfons. As foon as their Backs were turned, the Enterprizer immediately landed at this or that Cape, or in one or another Bay, Creek or River; there fet up the Arms of his Country, or a Pillar with an Infcription; or fometimes both: And thence he claimed a Right to fuch or fuch a Part of those Territories. But in many Cafes, nothing more was done; and feveral Years, perhaps, paffed without following the first Discovery, or making any Settlement upon it. Nay, it frequently happened, that after a Settlement had been made, it came to be deferted; either because the Place first fix'd upon, was not proper for it; or because fome other European Nation 4 |