FORTIFICATIONS. 381

were the motives which induced them to put this scheme into execution, that the preservation of Louis- burg will always be considered as an object of too great importance not to sacrifice every thing to it. Cape Breton protects the Whole French trade of North America, and is of equal consequence in regard to their commerce in the West Indies. If they had no settlement in this part of North America, their ves- sels returning from St Domingo or Martinique, would no longer be safe on the great bank of Newfoundland, particularly in time of war; lastly, as it is situated at the entrance of the Gulf of St Lawrence, it abso- lutely commands the river of that name.

“ The entrance of the harbour of Louisburg is defended by a battery, level with the surface of the water. It is planted opposite the light-house, on the other side of the grande-tene, and consists of thirty- six pieces of cannon, all of them four—and-twenty pounders. The harbour is also defended by a cava— lier, called by the name of Maurepas, which has twelve embrasures. The royal battery, situated at the distance of a quarter of a league from the town, is mounted with thirty pieces of cannon, twenty-eight of which are thirty-six pounders, and two are eighteen pounders. It commands the sea, the town, and the bottom of the bay. The port of Louisburg is at least a league in length, and upwards of a quarter of a league in its smallest breadth. There is very good holding-ground, and generally from six to ten fathoms water. They have, a very safe and convenient place to careen their ships, where they may also be laid up