Early in 1711 it was resolved to attempt the town of Quebec, the
capital of the French dominions in Canada, for which service Sir
Hovenden Walker and General Hill were nominated as Commanders in
Chief. A respectable force was appointed, and they were directed
to proceed for Boston, in New England, there to arrange every
thing necessary for this undertaking. They reached Nantasket, near
Boston, upon the 24th of June, and having prepared the Provincial
Corps, and withdrawn the Marines who garrisoned Annapolis
Royal since its surrender, they sailed for the object of their
destination, after many delays, upon the 30th of July.
This attempt was rashly adopted, without examining the difficulties
it involved. The urgent suggestions of the American Provinces first
gave the idea, in order to get rid of a hostile and dangerous
neighbour, but their energies were by no means adequate to the
extent of their designs. A general ignorance of the navigation
of the river St. Laurence very early exposed us to the loss of
more than 800 brave men, who perished from this fatal cause,
and these sad examples put a period to an expedition formed in
misrepresentation, and conducted by incapacity.
The whole squadron and forces returned to England on the 9th of
October, after having left the provincial auxiliaries upon their
own coast.