Page:New Brunswick Magazine Issue 1.djvu/19

largely controlled the British colonial policy, advised Lawrence to promote the development of his province in every practicable way, expressing their opinion that their should be no difficulty in obtaining settlers from the other colonies. Although this idea was quite in accord with the governor's own mind, he was obliged to plead his inability to induce the New England people to settle on frontier lands as long as they "ran the risk of having their throats cut by inveterate enemies who effected their escape by their knowledge of every creek and corner." He added that as he could not spare the troops necessary to defend new settlements nothing could be done "till the country was possessed in peace."

The threatening attitude of Boisherbert however determined the British to establish a fortified post at the mouth of the St. John, where the French had again taken possession of their old fort on the point of land opposite Navy Island. Accordingly, in the summer of 1758, an expedition, consisting of three ships of war and two transports, having on board a regiment of Highlanders and one of New England troops, left Boston for the St. John river. A landing was effected near Negro Point, and after making their way with some difficulty through the woods, the attacking party advanced against the fort from the land side. They were repulsed in their first attack, but in a second attempt were more successful and the fort was carried by storm. The defences were found to be very weak, there being but two small cannon in position. The French lost about forty killed and a number of prisoners, the remainder escaping in boats and canoes up the river. The sloop Ulysses which attempted to follow them was wrecked in the falls. The fort was now occupied by a British garrison of some 200 men, its defences were improved and barracks built for the accommodation of the troops.