fire upon the enemy's entrenchments, upon which the boats made in for the shore, and our fire from the frigates was wholly disregarded by the enemy, until our boats had got within half-musket shot of them, and then they began an incessant fire with cannon and musketry, which at first obliged our boats to retire a little; but they soon rallied again, and made the shore and landed, which the enemy perceiving left their entrenchments to us.

They were entrenched for above a mile, and had in that place from seven hundred to a thousand men, besides four or five hundred more posted at every place where there was any prospect of our landing, having cannon from 24-lb. shot to 3-lb., as also 7 and 10-inch mortars. Notwithstanding all these our troops behaved with the greatest spirit and resolution, zealous to surmount all dangers that they were inevitably exposed to, from the advantageous position of the enemy; and when they beheld the intrepidity of our officers and soldiers, climbing up the rocks where they judged it impracticable to land, they were struck with astonishment, and soon after turned their backs upon us.

We have killed and made prisoners between two and three hundred, and some of them (besides a few deserters from the garrison) have entered into our marine service; they are Germans, and highly dissatisfied at their being sent to Louisbourg.

We had the misfortune to lose in landing the Captain of Highland Grenadiers, and one of the Lieutenants. Several of the officers of the Army and Navy were wounded, and some soldiers and sailors; the killed, wounded, and drowned, does not amount to one hundred. Since our landing the enemy have deserted the Grand

VOL. I.

R

and Lighthouse Batteries, destroying them and throwing the cannon into the water.

They have made two or three unsuccessful sallies from the town.

We have blocked up in the harbour five or six twodeckers, and an equal number of frigates and storeships; and last evening General Wolfe, who has taken possession of the ground adjacent to their lighthouse, opened several batteries on the shipping, and obliged them to haul in close to the town, though even now they cannot well get out of the reach of Mr. Wolfe's cannon and shells, and by Sir Charles Hardy's being at anchor before the mouth of the harbour with an equal force, it is judged impracticable for them to get out, unless a violent storm should favour them. Some of our cruizers have, within this day or two, brought in a French frigate of 30 guns, bound to Canada from Louisbourg, having got out before Sir Charles was at anchor there.

The greatest zeal and ardour has appeared in the Admirals and Generals to do their utmost to execute every scheme for reducing this place, and I doubt not it will shortly be attended with the desired success.

July 2nd.—I was in hopes by this time to have acquainted you that our batteries had been opened and belaying upon the town; but I believe the great difficulty in making the roads to draw the cannon, and taking possession of the eminences adjacent to the town, and erecting redoubts to prevent being dislodged by the enemy, are the chief points that have retarded the Army from battering the walls.

The enemy within these few days have sunk the Apollo, and two or three store-ships at the mouth of the harbour, not to block it up entirely, but to render

the entrance so narrow that it will make it more difficult for our ships to go in if they are at last obliged to storm them by sea and land.

The Island Battery is in some measure rendered useless by one that General Wolfe opened upon it from the Lighthouse side.

The enemy continue a very warm fire upon our troops in their approaches upon this side, though the loss is as yet comparatively nothing, notwithstanding their frequent sallies, which, upon the whole, prove ineffectual.

All the accounts that we have yet received from General Abercrombie are, that the troops that are to proceed with him against Crown Point were marched for Albany above a month since, and that it was expected Mr. Abercrombie would have an army exceeding 20,000, and that General Forbes, with eight or nine thousand men, is marched against Fort du Quesne on the Ohio, in General Braddock's route, and we impatiently expect to have good tidings from those quarters.

These, Sir, are the most material occurrences worthy notice, and I hope you will pardon the liberty I have taken in troubling you with so long a letter, and that in my next I shall have the satisfaction to acquaint you with the success of His Majesty's arms here and elsewhere in America, as there is no reason at present to doubt but that Louisbourg will in a few weeks be subjected to the British Crown.

I still flatter myself that you will continue me an object of your favours, and that upon my return I may rely on your interest with the same freedom for my future preferment, as I did for what I now enjoy. honoured Sir, with the greatest respect, &c., &c.

I am,

NATH. COTTON.

P.S.-I forgot mentioning that by all accounts the Garrison consists of about five battalions of Regulars, which, with the inhabitants, amount to near 4000, and not many more or less.

N. C.

MR. PITT TO MR. GRENVILLE.

Tuesday, June 27, 1758.

I HAVE just time to send, my dear Grenville, the joyful news that Prince Ferdinand has beat the French near Creveldt, the 23rd instant: victory complete, but no officer yet arrived with the particulars. All the King's generals safe, and but about 500 men on His Majesty's part killed: we are sending twelve squadrons of English cavalry to this glorious school of war, and I hope to share a sprig of Germanic laurel very soon. We are all joy here, as you will be at Wotton. My affectionate compliments wait on Mrs. Grenville. ever, &c., &c.

W. PITT.

MR. JENKINSON TO MR. GRENVILLE.

London, June 27, 1758.

DEAR SIR,-We have at last received our mail from Holland; they brought us word that Prince Ferdinand had advanced, and that the French had retreated before them, and this morning an express arrived bringing the joyful news that the two armies had come to an action, and that the French were totally defeated, having lost all their cannon and baggage. This great event happened on the 23rd. We are here full of rejoicings.

I write this amid the sound of cannon, bells, and marrow-bones, which are loudly expressing their joy, and I suppose as soon as it is dark we shall have illuminations. I understand that four English regiments of Dragoons, and one of Horse, are going to join the Hanoverian army.

We hear from the King of Prussia that though the siege of Olmutz does not go on very fast, yet that they have no apprehensions of its being relieved, so that the point is secured.

I congratulate you and Mrs. Grenville on these great

successes.

Not only the fortune of England, but, in my poor opinion, her real intrinsic power, seems to be gaining the ascendant; and I cannot but think that any one who had well considered the state of the debts and finances of France, at the end of the two last wars, and had observed how all her resources were then exhausted, might have foreseen that she could not long be able to pay her armies in this war, and consequently that she could not be well served by them: what should we think of our own situation if the preservation of our country depended on the arrival of two or three ships with treasure? and yet a ComptrollerGeneral of France has acknowledged, in his Mémoires, that his country was once saved by such an event; and the treasure, though the property of private persons, was seized by the Government. I am, &r., &c.

C. JENKINSON.