which suggests some unpleasantness with Wolfe, the consequences of which they did not regard with satisfaction.

ness of the thought of landing when we did. Indeed his orders throughout the campaign shows little stability, stratagem or fixt resolution. I wish his friends had not been so much our Enemys, his Memory would probably have been dearer to his Country than now it can be. We are acting on the defensive, you have the Execution of the plan, I am well perswaded you will manage it with as much tenderness to the memory of the poor Gen", as the nature of things will admit of.”

Murray to Townshend, 5th of October, 1759.

Townshend papers, p. 316.

1759]

ADMIRAL SAUNDERS.

229

CHAPTER VII.

The remarkable feature of Pitt's administration was the energy and despatch with which he carried out his purpose. No sooner was the determination formed to proceed against Quebec than measures were taken to organize the expedition, detach vessels for the service and appoint the naval officers for the chief positions.

The command of the fleet was given to admiral Saunders. During the whole period of the siege his conduct was so unexceptionable, as to establish his claim on the respect of posterity nevertheless with that perverse indifference to merit so frequently manifested, when a great name has called forth a nation's homage, the escutcheon of Saunders has obtained little emblazonry from after-fame. Although of great prominence and distinction in his day, no dictionary of biography even records his name. The omission is the more striking that during his whole life he was actively engaged, on all occasions displaying pre-eminent ability, while the service rendered by him in the Saint Lawrence was only secondary to the masterly generalship of Wolfe. It is scarcely possible to find a better example of professional skill, devotion to duty, loyalty and hopeful co-operation in a common effort than in the assistance rendered by the navy in the operations of the siege, and yet modern biographical histories make no mention of the admiral who performed this service.

We learn from contemporary writers that he first attracted attention as the lieutenant of the celebrated "Centurion," of which lord Anson was in command, when he left England in 1740, in his expedition round the world. In February of the following year Saunders became commander of the "Tryal," sloop of war. In his passage round Cape Horn, Saunders, out of his crew of eighty, lost thirty-four seamen.

When at the island of San Juan Fernandez, he made a reconnaissance survey of the bays and inlets. Some Spanish prisoners who were brought there expressed their surprise, that in so short a time the British had built a brig, for they could not suppose it possible, that so small a vessel could navigate the stormy waters round cape Horn, when so many of the large ships of Spain were obliged to turn back. He accompanied Anson as far as Macao, in China, whence in November, 1742, he was sent with despatches to England. His presence in this position established his reputation, and was the precursor of the good fortune and distinction which he attained. In 1745 he was in command of the "Sandwich" 90. Subsequently, on being transferred to the "Yarmouth" 64, he took a leading part in the victory of Hawke of the 14th of October, 1742. In 1750 he became member for Portsmouth. In 1752, in command of the "Penzance," he proceeded to Newfoundland to protect the fisheries. Two years later he became treasurer of Greenwich hospital. In May of that year, on the election of the new parliament, through the interest of Lord Anson, he was returned for Heydon, in Yorkshire, which he represented in every change of parliament until his death. At the breaking out of the war he had been appointed to the fleet of admiral Hawke. Subsequently he was selected by Pitt to the command of the fleet in Wolfe's expedition.*

On the 8th of January Saunders received his appointment. Two days later he was instructed to send admiral Durell, one of the junior admirals, to Halifax with not less than four

It is gratifying to be able to state that Saunders, during his life, was the recipient of full honour from the crown. On his return from Quebec, he was appointed lieutenant-general of marines, and on taking his seat in the house of commons, he received the thanks of the speaker. He was again appointed in command of the Mediterranean fleet. In 1762, sir Charles Saunders became knight of the bath. For a short period in 1766, he acted as first lord of the admiralty. He finally rose, in 1770, to the highest rank, as admiral of the fleet. He died the 7th of December, 1775, of gout in the stomach, leaving a large fortune. Among his heirs were admiral Keppel, who was with him in the 'Centurion," and sir Hugh Palliser. The bulk of his property went to his niece. He was buried in Westminster abbey privately, near the monument of Wolfe.

1759]

SAILING OF THE FLEET.

231 ships of the line. In a few days he was told that the departure of these vessels was not to be delayed in the "Downs" by the separation of the stores and arms deliverable at Halifax, but that the ships should sail to New York, and that, at that port, as the list directed, the stores and arms. should be given over to Amherst. The transports, fifty-nine in number, with ordnance ships, were immediately to sail convoyed by four sail of the line and as many frigates. The spirit in which Saunders entered upon his duty can be conceived, when we read that he recommended sending Folkeston cutters "to examine creeks and bays in the Saint Lawrence."

Saunders was at Portsmouth until the 3rd of February. On the 16th he wrote from Plymouth sound, under sail. All the ships were together, with seven victuallers and four months' provisions for five thousand men. The fleet, seventy sail in all, weighed anchor on the 14th, and kept well together until the 24th; early on the 25th a storm, which lasted for two days, separated the vessels, so that on the 2nd of March they could number only forty-three. On the 10th Saunders wrote to Pitt that Durell had been ordered to the Saint Lawrence to watch the mouth of the river; he also forwarded a copy of a letter to de Lancey, then governor of New York, in which he pledged himself that men on the ships bringing provisions to the fleet should not be pressed. Seamen were, however, required, and Saunders called upon the governor to obtain men by all legal means; especially pilots for the Saint Lawrence.

Although it was the end of April when the fleet arrived at Louisbourg, owing to the ice the ships were unable to enter the harbour, so they sailed to Halifax, where they anchored on the 30th of the month. Durell was preparing to start, and he left Halifax on the 5th of May. Saunders sailed on the 13th. The first transports with troops arrived under convoy at Louisbourg on the 17th of May. Even at that date there was an unusual amount of ice in the harbour. Indeed, the severity of the winter had greatly retarded the expedition. Cruisers were immediately despatched; the "Lizard" to

move between the northwest of Anticosti and the southern shore; the "Nightingale" between North cape, cape Ray and the Bird islands.

The letter of Saunders had the effect of obtaining some additional strength to the navy. Two hundred and forty seamen joined the fleet from Boston. Some of the victuallers returning home, the opportunity was taken of sending to France some French prisoners and several of the inhabitants who had remained at Louisbourg. When Saunders reached Louisbourg fifteen transports had not appeared.

The object in ordering admiral Durell to the Saint Lawrence was to prevent the construction of fortifications at île aux Coudres,* by means of which the ascent of the Saint Lawrence might be made more difficult through the waters west of it known as the "traverse." This island is opposite Saint Paul's bay, about thirty-six miles east of the island of Orleans; the île aux Grues intervenes in the middle of this distance, and is succeeded by a series of smaller islets. Accordingly, the channel is directed across the river towards the south of the island of Orleans, and, although wide and deep, is in many spots intricate, and a knowledge of these difficulties is indispensable to its safe navigation.

The opinion had been formed that this part of the river might be fortified by the French, and that resistance at this point might be experienced. Durell's expedition had been sent to prevent any such attempt, and it was accompanied by a land force under the command of Carleton, the quartermastergeneral. Durell arrived at the île aux Coudres on the 6th of

* Île aux Coudres was so named by Cartier in his second voyage, 6th June, 1535. [Voyages, Que. Hist. Doc., p. 27.] It attracted the attention of Champlain in his first voyage of 1603. He speaks of the island as if it were well known: “qui s'appelle île aux Coudres" [p. 87, Laval Champlain], suggesting that some mariners were with him, who had previously ascended the St. Lawrence. It is not possible to suppose that it could have been identified from its mention in Cartier's narrative of seventy years previously. So far as our knowledge goes, Canada had been abandoned during the whole of that period, but the language of Champlain suggests the continuation of such voyages. Champlain again described the island in his voyage of 1608. The name of the island is attributable to the profusion of hazel nuts originally found there.