按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
violence in the spacious and quiet harbor。 Here the French had
made their first enduring colony in America。 On the shores of the
beautiful basin the fleurs…de…lis had been raised over a French
fort as early as 1605。 A lovely valley opens from the head of the
basin to the interior。 It is now known as the Annapolis Valley； a
fertile region dotted by the homesteads of a happy and contented
people。 These people； however； are not French in race nor do they
live under a French Government。 When on the 24th of September；
1710； the fleet from Boston entered the basin； and in doing so
lost a ship and more than a score of men through the destructive
current； the decisive moment had come for all that region。 Fate
had decreed that the land should not remain French but should
become English。
Port Royal was at that time a typical French community of the New
World。 The village consisted of some poor houses made of logs or
planks； a wooden church； and； lying apart； a fort defended by
earthworks。 The Governor； Subercase； was a brave French officer。
He ruled the little community with a despotism tempered only by
indignant protests to the King from those whom he ruled when his
views and theirs did not coincide。 The peasants in the village
counted for nothing。 Connected with the small garrison there were
ladies and gentlemen who had no light opinion of their own
importance and were so peppery that Subercase wished he had a
madhouse in which to confine some of them。 He thought well of the
country。 It produced； he said； everything that France produced
except olives。 The fertile land promised abundance of grain and
there was an inexhaustible supply of timber。 There were many
excellent harbors。 Had he a million livres； he would； he said；
invest it gladly in the country and be certain of a good return。
His enthusiasm had produced； however； no answering enthusiasm at
Versailles； for there the interests of Port Royal were miserably
neglected。 Yet it was a thorn in the flesh of the English。 In
1708 privateers from Port Royal had destroyed no less than
thirty…five English vessels； chiefly from Boston； and had carried
to the fort four hundred and seventy prisoners。 Even in winter
months French ships would flit out of Port Royal and bring in
richly laden prizes。 Can we wonder at Boston's deep resolve that
now at last the pest should end！
It was an imposing force which sailed into the basin。 The four
frigates and thirty transports carried an army far greater than
Subercase had thought possible。 The English landed some fourteen
hundred men。 Subercase had less than three hundred。 Within a few
days； when the English began to throw shells into the town； he
asked for terms。 On the 16th of October the little garrison；
neglected by France and left ragged and half…starved； marched out
with drums beating and colors flying。 The English； drawn up
before the gate； showed the usual honors to a brave foe。 The
French flag was hauled down and in its place floated that of
Britain。 Port Royal was renamed Annapolis and Vetch was made its
Governor。 Three times before had the English come to Port Royal
as conquerors and then gone away； but now they were to remain。
Ever since that October day； when autumn was coloring the
abundant foliage of the lovely harbor； the British flag has waved
over Annapolis。 Because the flag waved there it was destined to
wave over all Acadia； or Nova Scotia； and with Acadia in time
went Canada。
A partial victory； however； such as the taking of Port Royal； was
not enough for the aroused spirit of the English。 They and their
allies had beaten Louis XIV on the battlefields of Europe and had
so worn out France that clouds and darkness were about the last
days of the Grand Monarch now nearing his end。 In America his
agents were still drawing up papers outlining grandiose designs
for mastering the continent and for proving that England's empire
was near its fall； but Europe knew that France in the long war
had been beaten。 The right way to smite France in America was to
rely upon England's naval power； to master the great highway of
the St。 Lawrence； to isolate Canada； and to strangle one by one
the French settlements； beginning with Quebec。
There was malignant intrigue at the court of Queen Anne。 One
favorite； the Duchess of Marlborough； had just been disgraced；
and another； Mrs。 Masham； had been taken on by the weak and
stupid Queen。 The conquest of Canada； if it could be achieved
without the aid of Marlborough； would help in his much desired
overthrow。 Petty motives were unhappily at the root of the great
scheme。 Who better to lead such an expedition than the brother of
the new favorite whose success might discredit the husband of the
old one？ Accordingly General 〃Jack〃 Hill； brother of Mrs。 Masham；
was appointed to the chief military command and an admiral
hitherto little known but of good habits and quick wit； Sir
Hovenden Walker； was to lead the fleet。
The expedition against Quebec was on a scale adequate for the
time。 Britain dispatched seven regiments of regulars； numbering
in all five thousand five hundred men； and there were besides in
the fleet some thousands of sailors and marines。 Never before had
the English sent to North America a force so great。 On June 24；
1711； Admiral Walker arrived at Boston with his great array。
Boston was impressed； but Boston was also a little hurt； for the
British leaders were very lofty and superior in their tone
towards colonials and gave orders as if Boston were a provincial
city of England which must learn respect and obedience to His
Majesty's officers 〃vested with the Queen's Royal Power and
Authority。〃
More than seventy ships； led by nine men…of…war； sailed from
Boston for the attack on Canada。 On board were nearly twelve
thousand men。 Compared with this imposing fleet； that of Phips；
twenty…one years earlier； seems feeble。 Phips had set out too
late。 This fleet was in good time； for it sailed on the 30th of
July。 Vetch； always competent； was in command of the colonial
military forces； but never had any chance to show his mettle； for
during the voyage the seamen were in control。 The Admiral had
left England with secret instructions。 He had not been informed
of the task before him and for it he was hardly prepared。 There
were no competent pilots to correct his ignorance。 Now that he
knew where he was going he was anxious about the dangers of the
northern waters。 The St。 Lawrence River； he believed； froze
solidly to the bottom in winter and he feared that the ice would
crush the sides of his ships。 As he had provisions for only eight
or nine weeks； his men might starve。 His mind was filled； as he
himself says； with melancholy and dismal horror at the prospect
of seamen and soldiers； worn to skeletons by hunger； drawing lots
to decide who should die first amidst the 〃adamantine frosts〃 and
〃mountains of snow〃 of bleak and barren Canada。
The Gulf and River St。 Lawrence spell death to an incompetent
sailor。 The fogs； the numerous shoals and islands； make skillful
seamanship necessary。 It is a long journey from Boston to Quebec
by water。 For three weeks； however； all went well。 On the 22d of
August； Walker was out of sight of land in the Gulf where it is
about seventy miles wide above the Island of Anticosti。 A strong
east wind with thick fog is dreaded in those waters even now； and
on the evening of that day a storm of this kind blew up。 In the
fog Walker lost his bearings。 When in fact he was near the north
shore he thought he was not far from the south shore。 At
half…past ten at night Paddon； the captain of the Edgar； Walker's
flagship； came to tell him that land was in sight。 Walker assumed
that it was the south shore and gave a fatal order for the fleet
to turn and head northward； a change which turned them straight
towards cliffs and breakers。 He then went to bed。 Soon one of the
military officers rushed to his cabin and begged him to come on
deck as the ships were among breakers。 Walker； who was an
irascible man； resented the intrusion and remained in bed。 A
second time the officer appeared and said the fleet would be lost
if the Admiral did not act。 Why it was left for a military rather
than a naval officer to rouse the Admiral in such a crisis we do
not know。 Perhaps the sailors were afraid of the great man。
Walker appeared on deck in dressing gown and slippers。 The fog
had lifted； and in the moonlight there could be seen breaking
surf to leeward。 A French pilot； captured in the Gulf； had
taken pains to give what he could of alarming information。 He now
declared that the ships were off the north shore。 Walker turned
his own ship sharply and succeeded in beating out into deep water
and safety。 For the fleet the night was terrible。 Some ships
dropped anchor which held； for happily the storm abated。 Fog guns
and lights as signals of distress availed little to the ships in