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

66 A MAD SCHEME. [1744,1745.doubly hostile to Loiiisbourg, — their worst enemy.He found a willing listener in the governor, WilliamShirley.Shirley was an English barrister who hadcome to Massachusetts in 1731 to practise his professionand seek his fortune. After filling variousoffices with credit, he was made governor of thepro\dnce in 1741, and had discharged his duties withboth tact and talent. He was able, sanguine, and asincere well-wisher to the province, though gnawedby an insatiable hunger for distinction. He thoughthimself a born strategist, and was possessed by apropensity for contriving military operations, whichfinally cost him dear. Vaughan, who knew somethingof Louisbourg, told him that in winter thesnow-drifts were often banked so high against therampart that it could be mounted readily, if the assailantscould but time their arrival at the right moment.This was not easy, as that rocky and tempestuouscoast was often made inaccessible by fogs and surf;Shirley therefore preferred a plan of his own contriving.But nothing could be done without firstperauading his Assembly to consent.On the ninth of January the General Court ofMassachusetts — a convention of grave city merchantsand solemn rustics from thecountry villages — wasastonished by a message from the governor to theeffect that he had a communication to make, socritical that he wished the whole body to swearsecrecy. The request was novel, but being then ongood terms with Shirley, the representatives con-