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hands of the French during the late Warr; and form'd, set on foot, and conducted an Expedition, the immediate Consequences of which were, that Cape Breton was taken, the French lost their Codfishery, and about £800,000 Sterl in prizes, as they were sailing into the Harbour of Louisbourg, before they knew that it was surrender'd to the English.

'As the benefits, which accru'd to the Nation from these Services, happen'd under your Grace's Administration, I won't presume to observe to your Grace of what Importance they were to the Kingdom, or what Effect it might have had upon the State of publick Affairs, if instead of preserving Nova Scotia, and taking Cape Breton, his Majesty had lost the former to the French, and they had kept the latter; which would have been the case, if it had not been prevented by my vigilance.

Soon after the taking of Cape Breton I was oblig❜d to make a voyage to Louisbourg and reside there as Governour of it, about seven Months, to retain the American forces which were frequently upon the point of a General Mutiny for being kept (from their farms and families) in Garrison there, untill the Arrival of the Regimts. from England, to take possession of it for his Majesty, and to hinder a Distribution of the Island from being made among the Captors, as was propos'd by Sir Peter Warren.

At my return from Louisbourg besides the care I had in common with the other Governours in North America to raise Levies for the intended Expedition against Canada, I receiv'd your Grace's Commands to take several preparatory steps for the execution of the plan; the settling of which was committed to me in conjunction with Genl St. Clair, and Sir Peter Warren; and I went thro' a considerable Duty on that acct., tho' the Expedition happen'd not to take Effect.

The principal part of the care of the whole Governmt of Nova Scotia was likewise committed to me; and I took the Burthen of it upon me untill Mr. Cornwallis's Arrival in America: The Orders sent me from time to time for that purpose were of great latitude, and contain'd high marks of

his Majesty's Confidence in me; and I had the honour of receiving his Approbation of my Conduct in the Execution of them. And my Accts will shew how inconsiderable an Expence I put the Nation to in clearing that province of the Enemy, and preserving it during the whole Warr; tho' it was the principal Object of their Attempts in North America, as well from Old France, as from Canada.

The last Orders, I receiv'd from your Grace on acct of that province were to form plans for the Civil Governmt and fortification of it, both which I did, and transmitted them to your Grace's Office.

Upon the Expedition against Canada's being laid aside, I had your Grace's orders to discharge, in concert with Admiral Knowles, the American forces, upon such Terms, as we thought would be most adviseable for his Majesty's Service, and to collect, liquidate and adjust the Accompts of all the Governours concern'd in that Expedition, and to transmit them to be lay'd before his Majesty.

I will not trouble your Grace with an acct of the Execution of these Orders (which rested wholly in myself) either in America or here, further than to observe that I lessen'd the publick Expence by it to the amount of at least £40, or £50,000.

The Execution of this trust chiefly employ'd my whole time after my Arrival in England, untill my going to Paris in another Branch of his Majesty's service; and for my behaviour in that I may appeal to his Majesty's Ministers, with whom I corresponded, who, I believe would do me the honour to express their perfect Approbation of my Conduct in it.

After these services, at the End of eight Years, which I have spent in them, I find myself, my Lord, in a worse situation than I was in before I engag'd in them; my Regiment, the only mark, which I receiv'd of his Majesty's favour for them, is reduc'd; That was a profitable one, the short time, it lasted; But the Extraordinary Expences I was put to in the whole Course of my services will over ballance the profits of it.

I am without even half pay, which every other Officer of

my Regiment enjoys upon the reduction of it; and my Governmt of the Massachusetts Bay hath been within these three Years, dismember'd of the only Valuable perquisite in it, the Naval Office.

What compleats my Disappointments is, that my private fortune is not sufficient to enable me to make a provision for my Family without some mark of his Majesty's favour.

The Vacancy of the Governmt of the Leeward Islands, which I flatter myself, I might obtain, if your Grace shall be pleas'd to favour my pretensions, seems now to afford an opportunity for my doing this; and I am encourag'd to hope from the first instance of your Grace's goodness to me in patronizing me, and the kind Intentions, your Grace hath been pleas'd at several times to declare to me of supporting me with farther marks of his Majesty's favour in recompence of my services, that your Grace will favour me with your protection in this instance.

I am with the highest respect,
My Lord,

Your Grace's most Oblig'd, and
most Dutifull Servant,

His Grace the Duke of Newcastle.

Endorsed:

St. James's Street.

Novr. 23. 1752.

GOVR. SHIRLEY.

W. SHIRLEY.

WILLIAM SHIRLEY TO THE DUKE OF

MY LORD,

NEWCASTLE 1

St. James's Street, Jany. 23, 1753.

Having been inform'd by one of your Grace's servants at Newcastle House, that your Grace saw no Company this

1 B. M., Additional Manuscript 32731, 100. A transcript is in the Library of Congress.

morning, I beg leave to express in a few lines the extreme anxiety, which the Attempts, that I understand from your Grace, some Person, or Persons are making to wound my character with your Grace, give me.

My Case is the more cruel, as the Offence, I have given these persons, was incurr'd in a Service, which I had your Grace's and Mr. Pelham's express Commands to execute and therefore was not to be declin'd by me, tho' it was an extraordinary Duty lay'd upon me.

I foresaw from the beginning how Invidious, as well as difficult, and uneasy a Task it would be to me; But I had no way to avoid the Envy which was likely to attend it, without betraying my Trust to the Publick, which I hope I shall never be capable of doing.

Your Grace hath already inform'd me, that my Lord Halifax hath been pleas'd to declare to your Grace his Approbation of my Conduct in this Service.

Mr. Pelham, I was told in the time of the Execution of it, mention'd my name (with honour to me), to the House Commons upon that Occasion: and I dare say, that he, the Paymaster General, Secretary at Warr, and the whole Board of Trade, who were privy to my liquidating of every Article of the Accompts, which it seems, hath drawn upon me the Ill will of some New York Merchant, or Merchants, would do me the honour to declare their full Satisfaction in my Impartiality between the Crown, and the other Parties concern'd: and that I us'd my best Endeavours to do Justice to every particular person, as well as right to the publick.

It is true, my Lord, I made a very considerable saving to the Crown by detecting, and cutting off many extravagant impositions, which were attempted to be made upon it, both at home, and in America; but I flatter'd myelf, that tho' that might draw some Ill will upon me from some particular Merchants, or even Colonies in general, it would have added to my merit with his Majesty's Ministers.

But, my Lord, if instead of that, the Objections which have been suggested to your Grace against me, shall be thought sufficient to disqualify me for that Mark of his

my Regiment en Governmt of the three Years, dism it, the Naval Offi What complea: fortune is not su for my Family v The Vacancy which I flatter r pleas'd to favo opportunity for from the first patronizing m been pleas'd a me with fart pence of my

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