A new war between France and England had broken out in 1702, and had been raging ever since.  In the course of it, New England suffered much injury from the French and Indians, who often came through the woods from Canada, and assaulted the frontier towns.  Villages were sometimes burnt, and the inhabitants slaughtered, within a day’s ride of Boston.  The people of New England had a bitter hatred against the French, not only for the mischief which they did with their own hands, but because they incited the Indians to hostility.

The New Englanders knew that they could never dwell in security, until the provinces of France should be subdued, and brought under the English government.  They frequently, in time of war, undertook military expeditions against Acadia and Canada, and sometimes besieged the fortresses, by which those territories were defended.  But the most earnest wish of their hearts was, to take Quebec, and so get possession of the whole province of Canada.  Sir William Phips had once attempted it, but without success.

Fleets and soldiers were often sent from England, to assist the colonists in their warlike undertakings.  In 1710, Port Royal, a fortress of Acadia, was taken by the English.  The next year, in the month of June, a fleet, commanded by Admiral Sir Hovenden Walker, arrived in Boston Harbor.  On board of this fleet was the English General Hill, with seven regiments of soldiers, who had been fighting under the Duke of Marlborough, in Flanders.  The government of Massachusetts was called upon to find provisions for the army and fleet, and to raise more men to assist in taking Canada.

What with recruiting and drilling of soldiers, there was now nothing but warlike bustle in the streets of Boston.  The drum and fife, the rattle of arms, and the shouts of boys, were heard from morning till night.  In about a month, the fleet set sail, carrying four regiments from New England and New York, besides the English soldiers.  The whole army amounted to at least seven thousand men.  They steered for the mouth of the river St. Lawrence.

“Cotton Mather prayed most fervently for their success,” continued Grandfather, “both in his pulpit, and when he kneeled down in the solitude of his library, resting his face on our old chair.  But Providence ordered the result otherwise.  In a few weeks, tidings were received, that eight or nine of the vessels had been wrecked in the St. Lawrence, and that above a thousand drowned soldiers had been washed ashore, on the banks of that mighty river.  After this misfortune, Sir Hovenden Walker set sail for England; and many pious people began to think it a sin, even to wish for the conquest of Canada.”

“I would never give it up so,” cried Charley.