MILITARY AND CIVIL. 23

kept up their defence with great vigor. Their cannon were kept constantly served, and their ramparts were manned with cannoniers whose glory lay in the proud wave of their banner. The garrison, indeed, was animated with patriotic heroism, which ceased not to the end of the bombardment.

Having the advantage of a bomb-proof battery, the women and children were placed there as a refuge during the siege. In the midst of this terrible bombardment, Madam Dracour, the Governor’s lady, entered the fortress daily and fired off three cannon, in order to stimulate the soldiery by her example, nor were any means neglected to incite the courage of the besieged.

Yet the besiegers thundered forth with tremendous effect, causing the fortifications day by day to crumble and fall to the earth. By the 26th July,——or after a continuance of seven weeks,—all the French batteries were in a ruinous state, with hardly a dozen cannon fit for service; their war ships, too, were destroyed or captured, and having no expectation of relief from any quarter the Governor resolved to negotiate for a capitulation.

Fifteen thousand stand of arms, from two to three hundred pieces of ordnances, an immense quantity of stores and eleven stand of colors, were the trophies of this victory, the latter of

which were forwarded to England and deposited in St. Paul’s Cathedral, London.

With the overthrow of Louisburg the conquest of the Mari- time Provinces terminated. On the rugged flag-staff, where the lilied banner of France proudly kissed the breeze, the Cross of St. George now triumphantly floated. Its fortifications having been demolished, a foreign army now guarded their remains, and its brave defenders, 5,000 strong, continued prisoners of war till the year 1763, when peace was concluded at Paris.

To.complete the picture, a naval and military expedition commanded by Lord Rollo, was dispatched to the Gulf of St. Lawrence to receive delivery of the Island of St. John, which by the terms of capitulation was ceded to the Crown of Great Britain. Preparations for which having been completed, a parting salute bid farewell to Louisburg, and soon the fallen city was left in the far off distance. Orders were subsequently given for the works to be dismantled and distroyed. Thus in