“Upon the Receipt of M^r. Mascarene’s Letter, the Contents of which 326 are confirm’d to me by other authentick Accounts, it appear’d to me that there was no room to doubt but that a considerable Body of French and Indians from Canada was assembled in Nova Scotia, with Expectations of a Reinforcement from France; and if they fail’d of that this Year a Design of at least wintering in Minas or some other Part of the Country, by which means they would have an Opportunity of fortifying themselves in it, transporting their great artillery (which there was then the utmost reason to believe they had landed either at Bay Verte or Chebucto Harbour) to Annapolis, and work upon the French Inhabitants already ripe for a Revolt to join ’em in attacking his Majesty’s Garrison there so early in the Spring that it would be extremely difficult if not impracticable to relieve it by any Succours either from Louisbourg or the Colonies on the Continent. Whereupon I immediately sent M^r Mascarene an Assurance that I would send him as soon as possible 300 of the new Levies from this Province, 200 of ’em (which seems to be as many as the Garrison can hold at present besides the Troops already there) for the Reinforcement of it, and 100 of ’em to be employ’d in two Sloops up the Bay in the manner M^r Mascarene proposes in his Letter to me, and that I would do the utmost in my Power to make the number up 2000 soon afterwards, in order to dislodge the Enemy, & prevent ’em from wintering in the Province; And in the mean time upon my advising with Rear Admiral Warren (who is still here) he immediately sent his Majesty’s Ship Chester a 50 Gun Ship to Annapolis Royal for the further Countenance & Protection of the Garrison there.