ed by
Acts of Parliament. The English colonies, however, vigorously attempted
to repel the encroachments of the French from Canada, and ultimately
succeeded, notwithstanding the blundering incompetency of General
Braddock and Colonel Dunbar, the afterwards celebrated Washington being
Aid-de-Camp to the former on the Ohio. Braddock, in proceeding against
Fort du Quesne,[3] with upwards of 2,200 men, one thousand of which
were regulars, suffered himself to be surprised by only five hundred
French and Indians, had five horses killed under him, was himself
mortally wounded, and his troops were defeated. Nay, out of sixty-five
officers, sixty-four were killed and wounded, and of the troops
engaged, one half were made prisoners, through the ungovernable folly
of a man, who advanced without caution, and attempted to form a line
when surrounded in a thicket. It was at this time, when the English
colonists, not only contemplated a federal union, but had determined
upon expeditions--one against the French in Nova Scotia, which
completely succeeded; a second against the French on the Ohio; a third
against Crown Point; and a fourth against Niagara. The Marquis du
Quesne organized the militia of Quebec and Montreal; minutely inspected
and disciplined the militia of the seigneuries; and attached
considerable bodies of regular artillery to every garrison. Tired of
the continual fighting between Canada and the English colonies, the
Marquis du Quesne solicited his recall. His request was conceded. His
most Christian Majesty appointed the Marquis de Vaudreuil de Cavagnac,
son of a former Governor to succeed him. De Vaudreuil de Cavagnac
sailed for the seat of his government with Admiral La Mothe, who was in
command of a fleet newly fitted out, at considerable cost, at Brest.
The sailing was not unnoticed by the English Channel fleet. Admiral
Boscawen gave chase. He had eleven ships of the line, and with these he
came up with the French fleet off Newfoundland. A battle ensued, and
two French vessels fell into the hands of the British, the remainder of
the French ships escaping under cover of a fog. Quebec was reached
without further molestation, and Governor De Vaudreuil de Cavagnac was
installed. All Canada was, on his arrival, in arms. Every parish was a
garrison, commanded by a captain, whose authority was not only
acknowledged, but rigidly sustained. Agriculture was, consequently,
entirely neglected. Provisions were scarce; the price o