history of friedrich ii of prussia v 16-第61章
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Company〃） was Mr。 George Washington； whose Family had much promoted the Enterprise； and who was indeed a steady…going； considerate； close… mouthed Young Gentleman； who came to great distinction in the end。
French Governor （La Gallisonniere still the man）； getting wind of this Ohio Company still in embryo； anticipates the birth； sends a vigilant Commandant thitherward； 〃with 300 men； To trace and occupy the Valleys of the Ohio and of the St。 Lawrence； as far as Detroit。〃 That officer 〃buries plates of lead；〃 up and down the Country； with inscriptions signifying that 〃from the farthest ridge； whence water trickled towards the Ohio； the Country belonged to France； and nails the Bourbon Lilies to the forest…trees； forbidding the Indians all trade with the English； expels the English traders from the towns of the Miamis； and writes to the Governor of Pennsylvania； requesting him to prevent all farther intrusion。〃 Vigilant Governors； these French； and well supported from home。 Duquesne； the vigilant successor of La Gallisonniere （who is now wanted at home； for still more important purposes； as will appear）； finding 〃the lead plates〃 little regarded； sends； by and by； 500 new soldiers from Detroit into those Ohio parts （march of 100 miles or so）；〃the French Government having； in this year 1750； shipped no fewer than 8；000 men for their American Garrisons；〃and where the Ohio Company venture on planting a Stockade； tears it tragically out； as will be seen！
The THIRD thing worth notice； in 1749； and still more in the following year and years； had reference to Nova Scotia again。 One La Corne； 〃a recklessly sanguinary partisan〃 （military gentleman of the Trenck； INDIGO…Trenck species）； nestles himself （winter； 1749…50） on that Missiquash River； head of the Bay of Fundy； in the Village of Chignecto； which is admittedly English ground； though inhabited by French。 La Corne compels； or admits； the Inhabitants to swear allegiance to France again； and to make themselves useful in fortifying； not to say in drilling；with an eye to military work。 Hearing of which； Colonel Cornwallis and incipient Halifax are much at a loss。 They in vain seek aid from the Governor of Massachusetts （〃Assembly to be consulted first； to be convinced； Constitutional rights：Nothing possible just； at once〃）；and can only send a party of 400 men； to try and recover Chignecto at any rate。 April 20th； 1750； the 400 arrive there； order La Corne instantly to go。 Bourbon Flag is waving on his dikes； this side the Missiquash： high time that he and it were gone。 〃Village Priest ＇flamingly orthodox； as all these Priests are； all picked for the business＇； with his own hands； sets fire to the Church in Chignecto； 〃inhabitants burn their houses； and escape across the river；La Corne as rear…guard。 La Corne； across the Missiquash； declares； That； to a certainty； he is now on French ground； that he will； at all hazards； defend the Territory here； and maintain every inch of it；〃till regular Commissioners ＇due ever since the Treaty of Aix； had not that ROMISH…KING Business been so pressing＇ have settled what the Boundary between the two Countries is。〃Chignecto being ashes； and the neighboring population gone； Cornwallis and his Four Hundred had to return to Halifax。
It was not till Autumn following； that Chignecto could be solidly got hold of by the Halifax people； nor till a long time after； that La Corne could be dislodged from his stockades； and sent packing。 ＇ Gentleman's Magazine； xx。 539； 295。＇ September； 1750； a new Expedition on Chignecto found the place populous again； Indians； French 〃Peasants〃 （seemingly Soldiers of a sort）； who stood very fiercely behind their defences； and needed a determined on…rush； and 〃volley close into their noses；〃 before disappearing。 This was reckoned the first military bloodshed （if this were really military on the French side）。 And in November following； some small British Cruiser on those Coasts； falling in with a French Brigantine； from Quebec； evidently carrying military stores and solacements for La Corne； seized the same； by force of battle； since not otherwise；three men lost to the British； five to the French；and brought it to Halifax。 〃Lawful and necessary！〃 says the Admiralty Court； 〃Sheer Piracy！〃 shriek the French； matters breaking out into actual flashes of flame； in this manner。
British Commissions； two in number； names not worth mention； have； at last； in this Year 1750； gone to Paris； and are holding manifold conferences with French ditto；to no 〃purpose； any of them。 One reads the dreary tattle of the Duke of Newcastle upon it； in the Years onward： 〃Just going to agree；〃 the Duke hopes； 〃some difficulties； but everybody； French and English； wanting mere justice； and our and their Commissioners being in such a generous spirit； surely they will soon settle it。〃 ＇His Letters； in Coxe's Pelham； ii。 407 （〃September； 1751〃）； &c。＇ They never did or could； and steadily it went on worsening。
That notable private assertion of the French； That Canada and Louisiana mean all America West of the Alleghanies； had not yet oozed out to the English； but it is gradually oozing out； and that England will have to content itself with the moderate Country lying east of that Blue range。 〃Not much above a million of you〃； say the French； 〃and surely there is room enough East of the Alleghanies？ We； with our couple of Colonies； are the real America；counting； it is true； few settlers as yet； but there shall be innumerable； and； in the mean while； there are Army…Detachments； Block…houses； fortified Posts； command of the Rivers； of the Indian Nations； of the water…highways and military keys （to you unintelligible）； and we will make it good！〃
The exact cipher of the French （guessed to be 50；000）； and their precise relative…value as tillers and subduers of the soil； in these Two Colonies of theirs； as against the English Thirteen； would be interesting to know： curious also their little bill； of trouble taken in creating the Continent of America； in discovering it； visiting； surveying； planting； taming； making habitable for man：and what Rhadamanthus would have said of those Two Documents！ Enough； the French have taken some trouble； more or less； especially in sending soldiers out； of late。 The French； to certain thousands； languidly tilling； hunting and adventuring； and very skilful in wheedling the Indian Nations； are actually there； and they； in the silence of Rhadamanthus； decide that merit shall not miss its wages for want of asking。 〃Ours is America West of the Alleghanies；〃 say the French； openly before long。
〃Yours？ Yours； of all people's？〃 answer the English； and begin； with lethargic effort； to awake a little to that stupid Foreign Question； important； though stupid and foreign； or lying far off。 Who really owned all America； probably few Englishmen had ever asked themselves； in their dreamiest humors； nor could they now answer； but； that North America does not belong to the French； can be doubtful to no English creature。 Pitt； Chatham as we now call him； is perhaps the Englishman to whom； of all others； it is least doubtful。 Pitt is in Office at last；in some subaltern capacity； 〃Paymaster of the Forces〃 for some years past； in spite of Majesty's dislike of the outspoken man；and has his eyes bent on America；which is perhaps （little as you would guess it such） the main fact in that confused Controversy just now！
In 1753 （28th August of that Year）； goes message from the Home Government； 〃Stand on your defence； over there！ Repel by force any Foreign encroachments on British Dominions。〃 ＇Holderness； OR Robinson our old friend。＇ And directly on the heel of this； November； 1753； the Virginia Governor；urged； I can believe； by the Ohio Company； who are lying wind…bound so long；despatches Mr。 George Washington to inquire officially of the French Commandant in those parts； 〃What he means； then； by invading the British Territories； while a solid Peace subsists？〃 Mr。 George had a long ride up those desert ranges； and down again on the other side； waters all out； ground in a swash with December rains； no help or direction but from wampums and wigwams： Mr。 George got to Ohio Head （two big Rivers； Monongahela from
