small, and yet it is pleasant to read on the authority of Major Knox
that:

"I had the inexpressible pleasure to observe at Louisburg that our whole
armament, naval and military, were in high spirits; and though, by all
accounts, we shall have a numerous army and a variety of difficulties to
cope with, yet, under such Admirals and Generals, among whom we have the
happiness to behold the most cordial unanimity, together with so
respectable a fleet and a body of well-appointed regular troops, we have
every reason to hope for the greatest success."

ORDERS TO TRANSPORTS.

Before leaving, Saunders issued his instructions as to the order of
sailing. He divided the transports into two divisions, the Starboard
flying a red flag, and the Larboard a white one: he assigned to each
vessel its position and duties, and pointed out to each Master of a hired
transport that if the orders of his officers were not promptly and
exactly carried out they would be fired on, adding with a touch of grim
humour that the cost of the powder and shot so expended would be
carefully noted and charged against the hire of the offending ship. On
the 6th June Saunders was off Newfoundland with 22 men-of-war and 119
transports, and the cold winds blowing off the snow-covered hills of that
island were severely felt by the troops. On the 18th, when off the Island
of Bic, they were joined by Wolfe in the Richmond, and five days after
picked up Durell at the Ile aux Coudres. Here Saunders transferred his
flag to the Stirling Castle, which he had selected in England for the
purpose, owing to her handiness (Cook's friend, Mr. Bissett, was still on
board), and leaving Durell with eleven of the deepest draught to guard
against any interference from a French fleet, he proceeded up the river