The Isle of Cette, however, was shortly afterwards recovered by the French army stationed in the province under the Duke de Roquelaure; but all our soldiers were previously re-embarked. Nothing further occurred in 1710, which is in any respect connected with my subject. CHAP. VI. Early in 1711 it was resolved to attempt the town of Quebec, the capital of the French dominions in Canada, for which service Sir Hovenden Walker and General Hill were nominated as Commanders in Chief. A respectable force was appointed, and they were directed to proceed for Boston, in New England, there to arrange every thing necessary for this undertaking. They reached Nantasket, near Boston, upon the 24th of June, and having prepared the Provincial Corps, and withdrawn the Marines who garrisoned Annapolis Royal since its surrender, they sailed for the object of their destination, after many delays, upon the 30th of July. This attempt was rashly adopted, without examining the difficulties it involved. The urgent suggestions of the American Provinces first gave the idea, in order to get rid of a hostile and dangerous neighbour, but their energies were by no means adequate to the extent of their designs. A general ignorance of the navigation of the river St. Laurence very early exposed us to the loss of more than 800 brave men, who perished from this fatal cause, and these sad examples put a period to an expedition formed in misrepresentation, and conducted by incapacity. The whole squadron and forces returned to England on the 9th of October, after having left the provincial auxiliaries upon their own coast. CHAP. VII. Sir John Jennings arrived at Barcelona upon the 20th of March, 1711, in order to assume the command of the British Fleet. To watch the enemies ports, to distress their trade, and to keep open the communication of intelligence and supplies for the detached forces of our Allies, were all that he could now attempt in the tottering cause of King Charles the Third. About this time died Joseph, Emperor of Germany, whose bequeath of all his dominions to our Royal Competitor compensated for past struggles, and averted that blow to his pride which must soon have ensued from the desperate state of his affairs, by a total dereliction of his object. That event called upon him to fill the throne of his country; to obey which, his Majesty soon after embarked on board the English fleet, and was escorted to Italy. His Royal Consort still remained behind, with a view to inspire a motive for farther efforts, but the suspension of arms between Great Britain and France put a period to every active co-operation. The Empress, with her retinue, embarked at Barcelona, early in 1712, and landed at Genoa upon the 26th of March, from whence she prosecuted her journey towards the destined seat of her power.