A half-century of conflict. France and England in North America. Part ...

1745, 1746.] SHIRLEY'S SCHEMES. 151sailed from Boston on their desperate venture, whenhe wrote to the Duke of Newcastle that should theexpedition succeed, all New England would be onfire to attack Canada, and the other colonies would takepart with them, ifordered to do so by the ministry. ^And, some months later, after Louisbourg was taken,he urged the policy of striking while the iron washot, and invading Canada at once. The colonists,he said, were ready, and it would be easier to raiseten thousand men for such an attack than one thousandto lie idle in garrison at Louisbourg or anjrwhereelse. France and England, he thinks, cannot live onthe same continent. If we were rid of the French,he continues, England would soon control America,which would make her first among the nations ; andhe ventures what now seems the modest predictionthat in one or two centuries the British colonieswould rival France in population. Even now, he issure that they would raise twenty thousand men tocapture Canada, ifthe King required it of them, and"Warren would be an acceptable commander for thenaval part of the expedition; "but," concludes thegovernor, "I will take no step without orders fromhis Majesty. "2The Duke of Newcastle was now at the head ofthe Government. Smollett and Horace Walpolehave made his absurdities familiar, in anecdoteswhich, true or not, do no injustice to his character ;^ Shirley to Neivcastle, 4 April, 1745.2 Ibid., 29 October, 1745.