Action of 6-8 June 1755

On the 6th June, 1755, near the entrance to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, [Boscawen's British squadron happened] to fall in with four sail of the line, which had parted from M. de la Motte in a gale of wind, he chased them for two days. On the 8th at noon, the Dunkirk, Captain the Hon. Richard Howe, having arrived up with the sternmost French ship, the Alcide, 64, it may be said declared war; for, after some little preliminary hailing, he opened so furious a cannonade, that on the approach of the Torbay, the French ship struck her colours.

A second ship—the Lys, 64—en-flute, was also captured; but a fog shortly afterwards came on, and the third escaped. Thus was this war, commonly called in history "The Seven Years' War" commenced.