162 | To John Pownall

    Castle William Octr 20th. 1762

    Dear Sir

    In a former I acquainted you623 with the preparations that were making on this part of the Continent to dispossess the french of Newfoundland. Happily they have succeeded, as you will be advised long before this comes to hand. But possibly you may not be fully acquainted with the particulars of this expedition so far as to know how nicely the scale was turned. I mentioned to you that Lord Colville had only the Northumberland at Halifax: soon after the Antelope & Syren got to Placentia; & the Gosport from England to NYork repaired from thence to Halifax.624 I kept the King George ready in order to start upon the first warning, & upon receiveing advice that the Gosport had sailed for Halifax, I ordered the King George there, & upon her arrival Lord Colville immediately sailed for Placentia & from thence to face the enemy. The Naval forces stood thus.625

    F[rench].

    Robuste

    74

    E[nglish].

    Northumberland

    64

    Eveille

    64

    Antelope

    50

    Licorne

    36

    Gosport

    40

    Garonne

    26

    Sirene

    20

    Grammont

    16

    King George

    20

    216

    194

    With this force Lord Colville offered the french fleet battle whenever the wind blew out of the harbour. The land forces under Col. Amherst Afford another ballance of force

    F.

    Granadiers

    900

    E

    Regulars

    900

    Marines

    300

    Provincials Massach.

    500

    1200

    1400626

    With this force Col. Amherst took about 780 prisoners besides the killed & dispersed, He Allowed the french no time to reconnoitre his force: and it is said they fully believed when they surrendered that he had 5000 men. The whole work, untill he came to bombarding, was done by 3 Companies of Light Infantry, one of which of the provincials of the Massachusetts, which behaved equally well with the rest. for my part I do not regret the escaping of the french ships627 for if they had stayed & the strength of the English had been known, they could not have been such poltroons as to have given up the place. Next to the Conduct of the execution may be reckoned the Secrecy of the preparation, which was such, that neither the destination of the Naval or the land force which sailed at different times was in the least suspected, untill after they had sailed. In my little department the junction of the King George with Lord Collville appeared to be an accidental meeting instead of a Concerted Measure.

    I have thought proper to give you this private Acct. of an Expedition, whose uncommon success I hope has given great pleasure in England. I must add that I recd. from Ld. Colville such an high testimony of Capt. Hollowel Comm of the king george, that If I knew to ask for some honorable distinction for him, I would do it. your brother knows him well, and if some mark of honor could be devised for him, it would be well bestowed.

    I am Sr. Your most faithful servt.

    John Pownal Esqr.

    L, LbC BP, 2: 209-211.