The governor suggested that without the conquest of
Cape Breton by England there would be a conquest of Nova
Scotia by France, with the danger of losing all the English
continental colonies, and he intimated that promptness in
action would probably be decisive.^

Shirley had no official assurances that aid would be sent
from England, or in case it came that it would be sent in
time. Nevertheless the project had been germinating
rapidly at home. Kilby had been active in September and
later in urging it upon the president of the privy council,
Newcastle, and other members of the ministry, and it was
regarded with sufficient favor to lead the Massachusetts
agent " by every opportunity afterwards " to recommend
" the attempt in my letters to New England, with the
strongest assurances of their being supported from hence."
Action by the ministry was deferred until January, how-
ever, when without sending troops, " o-rders were sent to
Commodore Warren at Antigua to proceed with some of
the king's ships from thence to Boston where the scheme
was to be formed, and from thence put into execution."

This was decided upon at a season when news of the

•Shirley to Nejpcastle, Dec. 8, 1744, C. O. 5 900, 138.
