d in this manner, nay become a fiery Cockatrice or "FORT
DUQUESNE:"--need not be mentioned farther.

By this time, surely high time now, serious military preparations were
on foot; especially in the various Colonies most exposed. But, as usual,
it is a thing of most admired disorder; every Governor his own King or
Vice-King, horses are pulling different ways: small hope there,
unless the Home Government (where too I have known the horses a little
discrepant, unskilful in harness!) will seriously take it in hand.
The Home Government is taking it in hand; horses willing, if a thought
unskilful. Royal Highness of Cumberland has selected General
Braddock, and Two Regiments of the Line (the two that ran away
at Prestonpans,--ABSIT OMEN). Royal Highness consults, concocts,
industriously prepares, completes; modestly certain that here now is the
effectual remedy.

About New-year's day, 1755, Braddock, with his Two Regiments and
completed apparatus, got to sea. Arrived, 20th February, at Williamsburg
in Virginia ("at Hampden, near there," if anybody is particular); found
now that this was not the place to arrive at; that he would lose six
weeks of marching, by not having landed in Pennsylvania instead. Found
that his Stores had been mispacked at Cork,--that this had happened,
and also that;--and, in short, that Chaos had been very considerably
prevalent in this Adventure of his; and did still, in all that now lay
round it, much prevail. Poor man: very brave, they say; but without
knowledge, except of field-drill; a heart of iron, but brain mostly
of pipe-clay quality. A man severe and rigorous in regimental points;
contemptuous of the Colonial Militias, that gathered to help him;
thrice-contemptuous of the Indians, who were a vital point in the
Enterprise ahead. Chaos is very strong,--especially if within oneself
as well! Poor Braddock took the Colonial Militia Regiments, Colonel
Washington as Aide-de-Camp; took the Indians and Appendages, Colonial
Chaos much presiding: and after infinite delays and confused hagglings,
got on march;--2,000 regular, and of all sorts say 4,000 strong.

Got on march; sprawled and haggled up the Alleghanies,--such a
Commissariat, such a wagon-service, as was seldom seen before. Poor
General and Army, he was like to be starved outright, at one time; had
not a certain Mr. Franklin come to him, with charitable oxen, with
500 pounds-worth provisions live and dead, subscribed for at
Philadelphia,--Mr