We have at present no other news, though we have the justest reason to be in expectation of it. Prince Henry's army and the army of the Empire must soon come to some decision. Prince Ferdinand's troops marched out of cantonment the 16th; some event must soon arrive in consequence of all this.

There are reports flying this day about the City, that Mr. Moore has had some success at St. Pierre, in Martinico. All, however, which the Government knows of this affair amounts to this, that by a ship just arrived from Jamaica, it appears that a vessel had arrived there from the Leeward Islands, giving an account that Guadaloupe having completely surrendered, Mr. Moore and the forces were sailed away to Martinico, but what their design was was not known. I am, &c., &c. CHAS. JENKINSON.

MR. PITT TO MR. GRENVILLE.

Hayes, Monday, May 28, 1759. DEAR GRENVILLE,-I have the joy to acquaint you, that Lady Héster was safely delivered of a boy' this morning, and that mother and child are, thank God, in as good a way as can be.

Lady Hester, sends her love to you and Mrs. Grenville, and we both assure ourselves that our news will not be unwelcome. I send this by Monday's post, trusting that it may reach a day sooner. I am ever,

&c., &c.

W. PITT.

1 Afterwards the celebrated Statesman, William Pitt.

MR. JENKINSON TO MR. GRENVILLE.

London, May 29, 1759.

DEAR SIR,-I know of no event of any importance to send you. The account of the progress of the army of Prince Henry is printed in all the papers. We have, as yet, no direct intelligence that he is gotten to Bamberg, but we credit the Brussels news, which says that he is.

This was the first great object, as the magazines of the army of the Empire were lodged in that city; but we imagine that his Highness means now to advance still farther into Franconia.

I do not find that the Dutch Deputies are dissatisfied with the last decision. Lord Granville spoke for the first time in the Council upon this cause. He told the Lords, that he did not approve the method they followed of making so many distinctions in their decisions. He said he thought they had better speak out at once their sentiments upon the Treaty, since he was sure they would be reduced to it at last.

I should have mentioned before, that Prince Ferdinand is moving down the Lippe towards the Lower Rhine, and has left General Imhoff to command in Hesse, while, on the other hand, Monsieur de Contades is marched to join Broglio's army on the Maine, and has left Mons. d'Armentiers to command in his place. The French army is said to be in a very ill condition, no less than five regiments of Horse being laid up with the glanders.

Notwithstanding all that is said in the papers, I do not find that the French fleet is as yet come out, or even ready as yet to come out. I have, &c., &c.

C. JENKINSON.

THE REV. MR. COTTON TO MR. GRENVILLE.

Louisbourg, June 1, 1759. SIR,-I did myself the honour last year to transmit to you as particular accounts of the good and bad success attending the British armies in this part of the world, as I could procure in my situation; I flatter myself that I did not incur your displeasure, and hope that the doing myself the same honour this year, will meet with your approbation, as I am fully sensible that your desires are equally great to hear further accounts of the flourishing state of the English, and the decline of the French, and I shall, in as few words as possible, give you the true state of affairs in America, which are as follows: viz.

Admiral Saunders arrived at Halifax the beginning of May, at which time Admiral Durell sailed for the River St. Lawrence, and if the ice did not prevent him, was to make the best of his way with eight sail of the line, and a frigate or two, to the Isle of Bie, and higher if possible to that of Coudres, the former of which is between sixty and seventy leagues, the latter ninety; and in all probability, let him anchor at either of the aforementioned places, he will effectually prevent supplies passing them for Quebec, unless the enemy should force him with a superior naval armament, and then he has nothing to do, but to conquer, or be conquered; and lest the French should attempt the River after him, Admiral Saunders with the remainder of the fleet and army will sail to reinforce him in a very few days, and to push the operations up the river with the greatest vigilance, and from the martial spirit

that appears in our Admirals, and Generals, and Troops, there is a great prospect of success; and I know but one thing that may defeat our hopes, which is, that in case the French should judge their possessions all at stake, and that it is most prudent to make the strongest opposition at the capital, I cannot but fear that we shall meet such a superiority of numbers to our army, as will be sufficient to overpower us, and oblige a retreat; for I think it so tender a point with them, that either they must (on our safe getting up the river) make the best terms for the whole, or a very forcible opposition, which will be before we take possession of the ground, and compel us to dispute every inch with them; and if they have the numbers they ought to have, and can, they may by one or frequent engagements reduce our troops, so as that courage and bravery must submit to superiority of numbers, and nothing else.

If General Amherst should meet with the desired success to the westward, and push his conquests to Montreal, it will greatly facilitate the river expedition, and weaken their strength at Quebec; and I hope to have the satisfaction towards the close of the campaign to send you the agreeable account of the reduction of both the above-mentioned places, and at present can surmise nothing that will frustrate the designs, unless it is the defeat of one of our armies, which will enable the enemy to reinforce as their service may require.

When our fleets join, we shall make twenty-one or two sail of the line, besides frigates, &c., and hope it will be a naval force sufficient to keep the enemy at a proper distance if they should send out a fleet into these parts; though, if they should send out a fleet upon this

coast while ours is up the river, they might create some confusion, and if they pushed with vigour, reduce some of our settlements.

As to the state of the army, I am not so knowing to that as to be so particular in its strength, though the whole, marines, &c., will not exceed 8000 effective men, and by appearances, are as complete for the service as the like number in any part of the world; and it is to be hoped that the navigation up the River will be such as will favour their designs as soon as can be well expected.

The winter in this part has in fact been very severe, and in my passage to this place, I met with vast quantities of ice, that as the wind sets out or in to this harbour, fills it in such manner as renders it almost impracticable for boats to pass and repass from the ships to the town.

It has been Admiral Durell's and Governor Pownall's1 pleasure to keep me going from Halifax to Boston, three or four times the winter past, to settle the terms between them relative to the engaging of seamen to enter into his Majesty's service, to enable the fleet that wintered at Halifax to put to sea this spring; and it was attended with such success, that before I left Boston, there were 250 sent down to Admiral Durell, and it is expected that more will enter.

Although Admiral Durell did not sail for the river 'till after Mr. Saunders's arrival, yet I believe the severity of the season, in the great body and islands of

1 Thomas Pownall, at this time Governor of South Carolina. He had been Lieut.-Governor of New Jersey in 1755, and in 1757 Governor of Massachusetts Bay. He will be hereafter mentioned in these volumes.

VOL. I.

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