action that appeared in the British councils. By their successes
in the preceding campaign, they remained masters of all the lakes. Hence
they were furnished with the means of practising on the Indians, in all
the different districts, and obliging them, by rewards, promises, and
menaces, to act in their favour. Every accession to their strength,
was a real diminution of that of the British commander; but then the
ignorance or pusillanimity of some of the inferior officers in our back
settlements was, in effect, more beneficial to the enemy than all the
vigilance and activity of Montcalm. In consequence of the shameful loss
of Oswego, they voluntarily abandoned to the mercy of the French general
the whole country of the Five Nations, the only body of Indians who had
inviolably performed their engagements, or indeed who had preserved any
sincere regard for the British government. The communication with these
faithful allies was now cut off, by the imprudent demolition of the
forts we possessed at the great Carrying-place. A strong fort indeed
was built at Winchester, and called fort Loudon, after the
commander-in-chief, and four hundred Cherokee Indians joined the
English forces at fort Cumberland; but this reinforcement by no means
counterbalanced the losses sustained in consequence of our having
imprudently stopped up Wood-creek, and filled it with logs. Every person
the least acquainted with the country, readily perceived the weakness of
these measures, by which our whole frontier was left open and exposed to
the irruptions of the savages in the French interest, who would not fail
to profit by our blunders, too notorious to escape them. By the removal
of these barriers, a path was opened to our fine settlements on those
grounds called the German Flats, and along the Mohawk's river, which the
enemy destroyed with fire and sword before the end of the campaign.

LORD LOUDON'S CONDUCT IN AMERICA.

In the meantime, lord Loudon was taking the most effectual steps
to unite the provinces, and raise a force sufficient to strike some
decisive blow. The attack on Crown-Point, which had been so long
meditated, was laid aside as of less importance than the intended
expedition to Louisbourg, now substituted in its place, and undoubtedly
a more considerable object in itself. Admiral Holbourn arrived at
Halifax, with the squadron and transports under his command, on the
ninth day of July; and it was his lordship's intention to r