ainst 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.

"Nor did they, as we shall see," replied Grandfather. "However, no more
attempts were made during this war, which came to a close in 1713. The
people of New England were probably glad of some repose; for their young
men had been made soldiers, till many of them were fit for nothing else.
And those, who remained at home, had been heavily taxed to pay for the
arms, ammunition, fortifications, and all the other endless expenses of a
war. There was great need of the prayers of Cotton Mat