382 CAPE BRETON.

in Winter, only taking proper precautions against the

”

ice. The island battery, not mentioned in the above

description, commanding the harbour, mounted thirty guns, and some other batteries were also planted before the siege. The town was surrounded, with the exception of about two hundred yards of the sea of most difficult access, by a broad stone rampart, thirty feet high, and a wide ditch. An extensive marshy bog in rear, rendered the approach by land. both difficult and dangerous.

The population of Louisburg at this time, exclua sive of the troops, was about 5000. The adminis— tration was lodged in a governor and supreme coun‘ cil. There was also a bailiwick, or court of law, and a court of admiralty. It had an hospital for inva— lid soldiers and sailors, “ which was served by six brothers of the charitable fraternity, of whose con- duct, as well as that of the Recollet friars, and other spiritual directors in Cape Breton, complaints Were frequently made by the French inhabitants, and by the English of Nova Scotia, who charged them with the direction of the atrocities committed by the, Indians.” The nuns of Louisburg called themselves of the community of Quebec; their province was to superintend the education of young girls. There were two handsome churches in the town, one of which was within the citadel; and several other public buildings.

The British government, fearing that Louisburg might again fall into the power of the French, or—