Should you hereafter read, “The leading men in the government of the _Massachusetts_, having been guilty of certain mal-practices, for which they were in danger of being called to an account, projected the expedition against _Cape Breton_, in order to divert the storm: and proving successful, the English nation was so overjoyed that they forgot every other idea in the general transport, so that the planners and conductors of the expedition, instead of being called to an account for former misdemeanors, found themselves caressed and applauded”—believe it not—especially should the writer give “this public notice, I build nothing upon the present narration; and I only offer it (because not corroborated by sufficient evidence) as a probable case, and as my own opinion.”[62] Should he be a D. D. you may think it would have been well for him to have recollected the complaint of _Jeremiah_, “I heard the defaming of many; report, _say they_, and we will report;” and so to have been silent on the head of _Cape Breton_. Should you judge it uncharitable to retort upon him; yet you may deem it just to remind him of his own, do you find him using such like expressions as these, “As I never believed Dr. _Franklin_ in any public matter, excepting in his electrical experiments, I was resolved to see with my own eyes, whether what he advanced was true or not, having a strong suspicion that he fibbed designedly, like Sir _Henry Wotton_’s ambassador, _patriæ causa_.”[63] But to return, the year after the reduction of Louisburg [1746.] Great-Britain entertained the design of reducing _Canada_; and requisitions were made to the colonies, from New-Hampshire to Virginia, inclusive. It was expected that they should raise at least 5,000 men; they voted 8,200; and the _Massachusetts_, to the amount of 3,500, were ready to embark by the middle of July, about six weeks from the first notice.[64] Though the expedition was not prosecuted, this did not lessen the merit of the colonies in preparing to second the views of the British government.