1757.

The board of correspondents of the Society in Scotland for propagating Christian Knowledge having solicited the Society to Collection apply in their behalf to the General Assembly of the Church of in Scotland Scotland, a collection was appointed to be made through all the parish churches in Scotland, for the purpose of Christianizing the North American Indians.1

for N. A.

Indians.

gun;

Cherokee A mission was commenced by the Society for propagating the mission be Gospel in New England, in the Cherokee Upper Towns, with promising appearances; but the Cherokees having joined with but is relin- the French in hostilities against the English, the mission was soon given up.2

quished.

Louisiana.

W. Indies.

The whole colony of Louisiana is said to have contained not more than 10,000 souls, whites and negroes; and the inhabitants Montreal. of Montreal, to have been about 5000. In the English West India islands there were at least 230,000 negro slaves; and the white inhabitants, on the highest calculation, did not amount to 90,000 souls. The city of New York contained upwards of 2000 houses, and more than 12,000 inhabitants, descendants of the Dutch and English. Philadelphia contained about 2000 houses, and about 13,000 inhabitants.3

N. York.

Philadelphia.

Deaths.

Jonathan Belcher, governor of Massachusetts and New Jersey, died, at the age of 76 years. Aaron Burr, president of New

tigation, is ascribed the work which was printed at London in 1759, entitled: "An Historical Review of the Constitution and Government of Pennsylvania, from its Origin; so far as regards the several points of Controversy, which have, from time to time, arisen between the several GOVERNORS of that PROVINCE and their several ASSEMBLIES. Founded on Authentic Documents." This Historical Review forms Vol. ii. of Franklin's Works, Edit. 1818.

1 Account of the Society in Scotland for propagating Christian Knowledge. The collection amounted to £545. 5s. 3d. sterling.

2 Ibid.

3 Europ. Settlements, ii. 29, 38, 117, 191, 204.

4 Smith, N. Jersey, 418, 437. Gov. Belcher was the son of the Hon. Andrew Belcher, one of his majesty's council in the province of Massachusetts, and inherited a large paternal estate. He was educated at Harvard College, where he was graduated in 1699. Not long after, he visited Europe, where he spent six years, and was treated with distinguished notice. He was twice at the court of Hanover, before the protestant succession took place in the family of Brunswick, and received from the princess Sophia a gold medal. He was graceful in his person, elegant in his manners, and aspiring in his disposition. On the death of governor Burnet, he succeeded to the government of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, in 1730. In that eminent station he was indulged the exercise of that power, to which he had aspired. "The council never enjoyed less freedom than in his time, He proposed matters for their sanction, rather than advice, rarely failing of a majority to approve of his sentiments." His style of living was elegant and splendid, and he was distinguished for hospitality. "Though by the depreciation of the currency he was curtailed of his salary, yet he disdained any unwarrantable or mean ways of obtaining money to supply his expenses." The controversy of this governor with the general court, which was transmitted from his predecessors, and through him to the succeeding governor, is too local, and too prolix, to admit a recital. It principally respected a fixed salary, which the one demanded, and the other refused. The causes which influenced his removal from office, are represented much to the discredit

Jersey College, died, in the 43d year of his age. Spencer 1757. Phips, lieutenant governor of Massachusetts, died at Cambridge.2

year,

left the colonies Gloomy

colonies.

THE Successes of the French, the last in a gloomy state. By the acquisition of Fort William Henry, state of the they had obtained full possession of the lakes Champlain and George; and by the destruction of Oswego, they had acquired the dominion of those other lakes which connect the St. Lawrence with the waters of the Mississippi. The first afforded the easiest admission from the northern colonies into Canada, or from Canada into those colonies; the last united Canada to Louisiana. By the continued possession of Fort du Quesne, they preserved their ascendency over the Indians, and held undisturbed posses

of his political enemies, but in no degree to the prejudice of his own integrity. He was so far restored to the royal favour, as to be placed in the first vacant government in America. This vacancy occurred in the province of New Jersey, where he spent the remaining years of his life; and where his memory has been treated with deserved respect. In the judgment of President Burr, "the scholar, the accomplished gentleman, and the true Christian were seldom more happily and thoroughly united than in him." His remains were brought to Massachusetts, and entombed at Cambridge. Hutchinson, i. c. 4. Belknap, N. Hamp. ii. 95, 96, and c. 18. Burr's Sermon at Gov. Belcher's Interment. Allen and Eliot, Biog.- -In the Prince Collection of Manuscripts I found a folio MS. of the Rev. Jonathan Mitchel of Cambridge, containing the names of the members of his Church, "taken and registered in the 11. month 1658;" among which are" Andrew Belcher and Elizabeth (daughter of Mr. Nicholas Danforth) his wife." Their five children are also registered, of whom Andrew, father of the governor, was the fourth—“ all baptized in this Church." The tomb of governor Belcher is near the entrance of the grave yard in Cambridge.

1 President Burr was born at Fairfield, in Connecticut, and educated at Yale College, where he was graduated in 1735. In 1742 he took the pastoral charge of the presbyterian church at Newark, in New Jersey; and in 1748 was unanimously elected President of the college which he was instrumental in founding. He married a daughter of Jonathan Edwards, his successor in the presidency of the college. Miller, ii. 345. Allen [Biog.], with a copious biography of President Burr, gives an interesting sketch of the religious character and literary accomplishments of Mrs. Burr, who died the year after the death of her husband, Æt. 27-" in every respect an ornament to her sex." The eulogist of the President, who was not less discriminating than eloquent, says, "He was eminent as a theologian, as a preacher, as a patriot, as a Christian philanthropist, and exemplary for his piety. To his unparalleled assiduity, next to the divine blessing, was ascribed the flourishing state of the college of New Jersey, at the time of his death." Funeral Eulogium on President Burr by William Livingston, Esq. A few days before his own death, he preached a funeral sermon at the interment of governor Belcher, 4 Sept. 1757.

2 He was born of parents in private life, and was adopted by Sir William Phips and made his heir. He rose through successive offices to that of lieutenant governor in 1732, which he held from that time until his death. He was called to act several times as commander in chief of the province, and was in this office when he died. In the various stations which he held, he sustained the character of a prudent, faithful, upright man. Minot, ii. 15. Appleton's Sermon on his death. Eliot's Biography.

1758. sion of all the country west of the Alleghany mountains. In this adverse state of things, the spirit of Britain rose in full proportion to the occasion; and her colonies, instead of yielding to despondency, resumed fresh courage, and cheerfully made the preparations for the ensuing campaign. Mr. Pitt had, the last autumn, been placed at the head of a new administration, which conciliated the contending interests in parliament; and while the wisdom of that very extraordinary statesman devised great and judicious plans, his active spirit infused new life into all, whether at home or abroad, whose province it was to execute them. In a circular letter to the colonial governors, he assured them of the determination to send a large force to America, to operate by sea and land against the French; and called on them to raise as large bodies of men, as the number of inhabitants would allow. The northern colonies were prompt and liberal in furnishing requisite supplies. The legislature of Massachusetts voted to furnish 7000 men; Connecticut, 5000; and New Hampshire, 3000. These troops were ready to take the field very early in May, previous to which time admiral Boscawen had arrived at Halifax with a formidable fleet, and about 12,000 British troops under the command of general Amherst. The earl of Loudoun had returned to England, and general Abercrombie, on whom the chief command of the entire forces for the American war had devolved, was now at the head of 50,000 men; the most powerful army ever seen in America.1

Project of

the campaign.

Three expeditions were proposed for this year; the first, against Louisbourg; the second, against Ticonderoga and Crown Point; and the third, against Fort du Quesne. On the first Expedition expedition admiral Boscawen sailed from Halifax on the 28th of against May, with a fleet of 20 ships of the line and 18 frigates, and an Louisbourg. army of 14,000 men under the command of general Amherst,

June 8.

and arrived before Louisbourg on the 2d of June. The garrison of that place, commanded by the chevalier de Drucourt, an officer of courage and experience, was composed of 2500 regulars, aided by 600 militia. The harbour being secured by five ships of the line, one 50 gun ship, and five frigates, three of which were sunk across the mouth of the basin, it was found necessary to land at some distance from the town. When, with some difficulty but little loss, the landing was effected at the creek of Cormoran, and the artillery and stores were brought on shore, general Wolfe was detached with 2000 men, to seize a post occupied by the enemy at the Lighthouse point, from which the ships in the harbour and the fortifications in the town might be greatly annoyed. On the approach of that gallant officer,

1 In this computation are included "troops of every description;" 22,000 of them were regular troops. Univ. Hist.

1758.

the post was abandoned; and several very strong batteries were erected there. Approaches were also made on the opposite side of the town, and the siege was pressed with resolute, but slow and cautious vigour. A very heavy cannonade being kept up against the town and the vessels in the harbour, a bomb at length set on fire and blew up one of the great ships, and the flames were communicated to two others, which shared the same fate. The English admiral now sent 600 men in boats into the July 21. harbour, to make an attempt on the two ships of the line, which still remained in the basin; and one of them, that was aground, was destroyed, the other was towed off in triumph. This gallant exploit putting the English in complete possession of the harbour, and several breaches being made practicable in the works, the place was deemed no longer defensible, and the governor offered to capitulate. His terms, however, were refused; and it was required, that the garrison should surrender as prisoners of war, or sustain an assault by sea and land. These humiliating terms, though at first rejected, were afterward acceded to; and Louis- Louisbourg bourg with all its artillery, provisions, and military stores, as also taken by the English. Island Royal, St. John's, and their dependencies, were placed in the hands of the English, who, without farther difficulty, took entire possession of the island of Cape Breton. In effecting this conquest about 400 of the assailants were killed or wounded. The conquerors found 221 pieces of cannon, and 18 mortars, with a very large quantity of stores and ammunition. The inhabitants of Cape Breton were sent to France in English ships; but the garrison, sea officers, sailors, and marines, amounting collectively to 5637, were carried prisoners to England. The garrison lost upward of 1500 men; and the town was left "almost an heap of ruins."1

The armies intended for the execution of the plans against Ticonderoga and Fort du Quesne, were to rendezvous at Albany and Philadelphia. The first was commanded by general Aber

1 Marshall, i. 428-431. Univ. Hist. xl. 219. Wynne, ii. 80. Minot, ii. 38. Mante, b. 3. Smollett, b. 3. c. 9. Trumbull, Conn. b. 2. c. 18; and U. States, i. c. 11. At St. John's, 4100 inhabitants submitted, and brought in their arms. The Articles of Capitulation, in Mante, are signed by the French commander, "Le Chevalier de DRUCOUR." Mante says, "In this memorable siege the French troops had about 350 killed and wounded.-The fleet of that nation suffered considerably by the loss of Le Prudent and L'Entrepenant, of 74 guns each; Le Capricieux, Le Celebre, and Bienfaisant, of 64 each; Apollo, 50; Le Chevre, Biche, and Fidelle, frigates; the Diana, taken by the Boreas, and the Echo by the Juno."-This conquest caused great rejoicings in England, which served to revive the honour of the northern colonies, which had formerly conquered Cape Breton. The colours of Louisbourg and of the troops were carried to England. These trophies were carried from Kensington, and deposited, with great pomp, in the cathedral of St. Paul's, London, and a form of thanksgiving was ordered to be used in all the churches. In New England the joy was great, and it was there also solemnly testified by a public thanksgiving.

26.

1758. crombie, and consisted of upwards of 15,000 men, attended by a formidable train of artillery. On the 5th of July the general Abercrom- embarked his troops on Lake George, on board of 125 whale

bie embarks

for Ticon-boats, and 900 batteaux. His first operations were against Ti

deroga.

Lord Howe killed.

conderoga. After debarkation at the landing place in a cove on the west side of the lake, the troops were formed into four columns, the British in the centre, and the provincials on the flanks. In this order they marched toward the advanced guard of the French, which, consisting of one battalion only, posted in a logged camp, destroyed what was in their power, and made a precipitate retreat. While Abercrombie was continuing his march in the woods, toward Ticonderoga, the columns were thrown into confusion, and in some degree entangled with each other. At this juncture, lord Howe, at the head of the right centre column, fell in with a part of the advanced guard of the enemy which was lost in the wood in retreating from Lake George, and immediately attacked and dispersed it, killing a considerable number, and taking 148 prisoners. In this skirmish, lord Howe fell on the first fire.2

The English army, without farther opposition, took possession of a post within two miles of Ticonderoga. Abercrombie, having learned from the prisoners the strength of the enemy at that fortress, and from an engineer, the condition of their works, resolved on an immediate storm, and made instant disposition for an assault. The troops, having received orders to march up briskly, rush upon the enemy's fire, and to reserve their own till they had passed a breastwork, marched to the assault with great intrepidity. Unlooked for impediments, however, occurred. In front of the breastwork, to a considerable distance, trees had been felled with their branches outward, many of which were sharpened to a point, by means of which the assailants were not only retarded in their advance, but, becoming entangled among the boughs, were exposed to a very galling fire. Finding it

1 The 27th, 420, 44th, 46th, and 55th regiments; the first battalion of the Royal Americans; and a detachment of the Royal Artillery; making about 6367 of the king's troops, and 9024 provincials, boatmen included; amounting, in the whole, to 15,391 men. Mante, b. 3.

2 Lord Howe was in the 34th year of his age. He was a young nobleman of the most promising military talents, who by his many virtues, as well as by his distinguished valour, had acquired the esteem and affection both of the provincial and British troops. The province of Massachusetts, by an order of the General Gourt (which granted £250 for the purpose), afterward caused a monument to be erected to his memory in Westminster Abbey. He was a brother of Sir William Howe, who commanded the British army in the subsequent revolutionary war in America.-Major Rogers, who with a body of Rangers went against the left flank of the enemy and killed several, says of lord Howe: "This noble and brave officer being universally beloved by both officers and soldiers of the army, his fall was not only sincerely lamented, but seemed to produce an almost general consternation and languor through the whole."