have a bad Influence upon ’em in favour of the Enemy at this critical Time. I have wrote M^r Mascarene a Letter (a copy of which I inclose to your Grace) which is translated into French, & printed, in order to be dispers’d among the french inhabitants, if M^r Mascarene (to whose Discretion I have submitted it either to make Use of or suppress the printed Copies) shall be of Opinion that the Publication of it among ’em may be for his Majesty’s Service. “If the Fleet discover’d on the Cape Sable Coast should be Part of that from Brest, doubtless their visit to Nova Scotia has been encourag’d by the general Disposition of the Inhabitants, & the strength they will add to ’em for the Reduction of that Province, & afterwards for an Attempt upon Louisbourg (if they should think it adviseable to make one) as also for the defence of Canada. Should they succeed in an immediate Attempt upon Nova Scotia (which I should not be surpriz’d at) & General S^t Clair with the Squadron expected from England should arrive in time for that purpose, I should propose attempting the immediate recovery of it out of the Enemy’s hands this 329 Year; For their holding that Province till they can fortify it and farther strengthen themselves there must be attended with very bad Consequences to his Majesty’s Service, worse than may be immediately apprehended, & create no inconsiderable Perplexities; at least it seems a clear point to me, that if the French should hold the Possession of Nova Scotia in Addition to Canada, the fate of Affairs in his Majesty’s Northern Colonies will be suddenly alter’d in a surprizing manner & it will then soon be discern’d that the Mastery of the Northern Parts of this Continent, together with the Sources of Wealth & Power depending upon it, will be in a very fair way of being finally transfer’d to the Enemy.