ench fleet, which consisted of twenty-five
ships of the line, besides frigates and transports, with a vast number
of warlike stores, and between three and four thousand land forces,
under Baron Dieskau, were ready to sail from Brest, under Admiral
Macnamara. Upon this intelligence, Admiral Holbourne was ordered to
reinforce Boscawen with six ships of the line and one frigate; and a
great number of capital ships were put into commission. It was the 6th
May (1755) before Macnamara sailed; but he soon returned with nine of
his capital ships, and ordered the rest to proceed under the command of
M. Bois de la Mothe.

"When news of so strong a squadron sailing from Brest was confirmed, the
people of England grew extremely uneasy for the fate of the squadron
under Boscawen and Holbourne; and it was undoubtedly owing to the bad
management of the French that one or both of those squadrons were not
destroyed."[226]

The King, in proroguing Parliament, the 27th of May, 1755, among other
things said:

"That he had religiously adhered to the stipulations of the treaty of
Aix-la-Chapelle, and made it his care not to injure or offend any Power
whatsoever; but never could he entertain the thoughts of purchasing the
name of peace at the expense of suffering encroachments upon, or
yielding up, what justly belongs to Great Britain, either by ancient
possession or solemn treaties. That the vigour and firmness of his
Parliament on this important occasion have enabled him to be prepared
for such contingencies as may happen. That, if reasonable and honourable
terms of accommodation can be agreed upon, he will be satisfied, and in
all events rely on the justice of his cause, the effectual support of
his people, and the protection of Divine Providence."[227]

This speech to Parliament was delivered a year before war was formally
declared between England and France; and a year before that, in 1754, by
royal instructions, a convention of delegates from the Assemblies of the
several Colonies was held at Albany, in the Province of New York. Among
other things relative to the union and defence of the Colonies which
engaged the attention of this Convention, "a representation was agreed
upon in which were set forth the unquestionable designs of the French to
prevent the colonies from extending their settlements, a line of forts
having been erected for this purpose, and many troops transported from
France; and the danger the colonies were in of bei