378 CAPE BKETON. * in this expedition. The famous Mr Whitfield sup¬ plied them with the motto, " Nil desperandum Christo duce," for their banner; and the military feeling of these forces was probably acted upon as much by fa¬ naticism as by love of country. Commodore Warren , after some delay, joined the transports from England ; and after a siege of forty-nine days, during which the provincials distin¬ guished themselves by their endurance and bravery, surrendered on the 18th of June. Com¬ modore Warren, a few days before, captured the Vigilant of 74 guns, commanded by the Marquis de la Maison Forte, with a great supply of stores ; and some time after, two French ships, and a ship, valued at L .600,000, were decoyed into , by hoisting the French flag in the usual place. John's Island fell into the possession of Eng¬ land a little after ; and the inhabitants were trans¬ ported to France . Some English, on that occasion, ventured incautiously into the country, where they were surprised by the Indians, and twenty-eight were either massacred or made prisoners. The stores, merchandise, fish, &c. taken in Louis¬ burg, were of immense value; and the importance of this place to France , as a rendezvous for its West and fleets, and as the head-quarters of their fisheries, was of vast consequence. Privateers were also fitted out here to disturb our fisheries, and to infest our colonial coasts. The Micmac Indians resorted here with the scalps of the English who 2