British and Provincial forces; of these one was commanded by Colonel Monckton who had orders to drive the French from their encroachments upon Nova Scotia. The second, more to the south, was directed against Crown Point, under the command of General Johnson. The third, under the conduct of General Shirley, was destined to proceed to Niagara, to secure the forts on that river; and the fourth, further southward still, under General Braddock was ordered to reduce Fort Quesne.

The first was successful. The troops were raised in Massachusetts Bay, and acted as a distinct body under their own officers, with a promise of the same pay, and treatment in every respect as others in the same service with them. They embarked at Boston on the 20th of May, and arrived at the basin of Annapolis Royal on the 25th, whence they sailed on the first of June, in a fleet of forty-one vessels, to Chignecto, and anchored about five miles from Fort Lawrence. On the 4th, being joined by about three hundred regulars, with a small train of artillery, they marched for the French fort, Beau Sejour. On the 16th, the enemy surrendered, being allowed to march out with the honors of war, and to be transported with their effects to Louisburg, at the expense of the King of Great Britain, on condition of not bearing arms for six months. The Fort of Gaspareau of necessity surrendered, after that of Beau Sejour, and was allowed the The name of the latter was changed to Cumber

same terms.

land.

Braddock, who commanded the expedition against Fort du Quesne, suffered a shameful defeat. He was repeatedly warned that the nature of the country, and the warfare he was engaged in, required the utmost caution. He was advised to send forward the Provincial troops that served in his army, consisting of independent and ranging companies, to scour the woods, and guard against an ambuscade; but he thought too contemptuously both of the enemy and the colonists, to follow that judicious recommendation. The consequence was, he fell into an ambush when within seven miles of the fort. His army was totally routed, and sixty-four officers and about one half of the men were killed or wounded. The Provincials were formed under Colonel Washington, and covered the retreat of the fugitives.

General Johnston, though unable to attempt Crown Point, revived the drooping spirits of the people, by repulsing the Baron

Dieskau and a large force, after a hard and well-contested fight. General Shirley, from a variety of causes, was unable to take offensive measures, until the season for action had passed, and the general result of the war so far was both disastrous and discouraging.

The reasons why so little was effected, where so much was confidently expected, are to be sought for in the dissimilar forms of government of twelve provinces, and in the want of some controlling power to establish the quota of men to be furnished by each -the absence of a common treasury, and the right exercised by every province to interfere in the management of their contingents, as to the time of their marching, the objects of their destination, and their supplies. Another great case of disgust, insubordination, and want of union, arose from the invidious distinction made between the king's troops and the Provincials. By an act of Parliament, the general or field-officers who served by commission from the king, and a captain and other inferior officers of the British forces, in all duties, took post of the Provincial officers of like rank, though their commissions were of older date; and what must have operated most unfavorably in this respect was, that the appointment of officers among the regular troops was extended to Americans so grudgingly, as so make it evident that they were no further rewarded by commissions, than the enlisting of men made it absolutely necessary. This impolicy alienated the feelings of many deserving and well affected colonists.

The campaign of 1756, from the operations of some or all of these causes, was as unsuccessful as that in 1755. It terminated with the loss of the fort at Owego, and abandonment, after immense toil and expense, of the expedition against Crown Point, the soldiers being ingloriously employed in defensive measures for their own safety. That of the following year, 1757, was still more humiliating; the loss of Fort William Henry, garrisoned by nearly three thousand regular troops, filled the country with despondency, and the breach of the capitulation by the French, whereby the prisoners were all pillaged, and many butchered in cold blood, was long the theme of indignant reproach. The year 1758 opened with better prospects, and is distinguished for the capture of Louisburg. A very powerful armament, consisting of twenty ships of the line, and eighteen frigates, having on board fourteen hundred men, under the command of Admiral Boscawen and General Amherst, appeared before that place on the 2d of

June, and on the 25th of July it surrendered. Fort Frontenac was also taken by a body of three thousand Provincials, aided by regulars; and the French, after a severe encounter with part of General Forbes's army, evacuated Fort de Quesne on the Ohio.

Ticonderoga, the great object of New England's efforts, still remained to scourge the country, and it was resolved forthwith to attack it. This attempt, however, proved unsuccessful, and occasioned a loss of sixteen hundred and eight rank and file of the regulars, among whom was Lord Viscount Howe, and threehundred and thirty-four Provincials. To put an end to this ruinous contest, three great expeditions were undertaken: General Amherst, with a body of twelve thousand men, was to attack Crown Point; General Wolf was, at the opposite quarter, to enter the St. Lawrence, and undertake the siege of Quebec, while Generals Johnson and Prideaux were to attempt the reduction of the French forts, near the Falls of Niagara.

It was late in July before General Amherst reached Ticonderoga; on his approach, the French blew up the magazine, evacuated the fort, and retreated to Crown Point, whither he immediately pursued them. But they retired, and took post at Isle aux Noix, at the northern extremity of Lake Champlain. As the season was so far advanced, he returned to Crown Point, and put his troops in winter quarters.

The expedition, under Generals Prideaux and Johnson, against Fort Niagara, was crowned with complete success. A large force, collected from all the neighboring garrisons, was assembled for the purpose of raising the siege, for the French justly considered that post as the key to all their interior American empire. These troops were gallantly repulsed, in view of the besieged, who, discouraged by having all succor cut off, surrendered as prisoners of war.

While these successful operations were carried on in Upper Canada, General Wolfe was prosecuting the grand enterprise for the reduction of Quebec. Of the ascent of the heights of Abraham, the battle that ensued, the death of Wolfe and Montcalm, the fall of Quebec, and the subsequent conquest of Canada, every history, both American and English, contains a copious account. To abridge it would be to deprive it of its interest, and to enter upon it at large, is inconsistent with the nature of this work. Bald and scanty as the narrative I have given must necessarily

be, it is copious enough to exhibit the military character of the colonists, and the school in which they were trained to a knowledge of actual service. Any thing beyond this I have omitted, as incompatible with the plan of a book that professes not to be a history, but a political sketch.

On the 10th of February, 1763, a definitive treaty of peace was signed at Paris, and soon after ratified. By the second article, France renounced and guaranteed to Great Britain all Nova Scotia or Acadia, and likewise Canada, the Isle of Cape Breton, and all other islands in the Gulf and River of St. Law

rence.

CHAPTER II.

SKETCH OF POLITICAL EVENTS FROM 1698 TO 1740.

Arrival of Sir William Phipps-Difference between Old and New Charters— Spirit of first Legislation-Determination to Establish no permanent Salaries -Formation of two Parties, Loyalists and Patriots-Character and Death of Phipps-New York imitates the Conduct of New England-Refusal of Militia of Connecticut to obey the King's Officer-Board of Trade established -Courts of Admiralty created-Oath framed for Governors to enforce Trade Acts-Arrival of Lord Bellemont-His Character and Conduct-Appointment of Mr. Dudley-His Unpopularity-The Assembly deny his Right to Negative their Choice of Speaker, and refuse to comply with any of the Royal Instructions-Insinuations against the Governor that he was holding treasonable Correspondence with the Enemy-He is attacked by the Preachers-Appointment of Colonel Chute-Opposition of Assembly-Appointment and Death of Governor Burnet-Arrival of Governor Belcher-End of Contest about fixed Salaries.

ON the 14th of May, 1692, Sir William Phipps arrived at Boston, with the new charter, and a commission, appointing him Governor of the colony. The people were not a little surprised to find, that the patent which had caused them so much apprehension, was more favorable than they expected; but liberal as it was, there was a very large party in the colony averse from receiving it, hoping that by showing a bold front, and determined opposition, they might extort a renewal of the old one.

Warned by past experience of the danger of permitting any sect to indulge intolerance, a clause was introduced into it by the crown officers, allowing liberty of conscience in the worship of God to all Christians excepting Papists; appeals to the King and Council were supported in all personal actions above three hundred pounds sterling in value; and the exercise of Admiralty jurisdiction was reserved to the Crown. But the great restraint laid upon the province consisted in the appointment of the Govern or, Lieutenant-governor, and Secretary by the king; in investing his representative with a negative upon all laws and elections made by the Council and House of Representatives; and subjecting the laws, even when thus sanctioned, to rejection by the king, within the term of three years. The Governor was also authorized to call an Assembly whenever he saw proper, and to adjourn,