in the execution of a well-concerted plan, Colonel Haviland
joined them with his detachment the next day. The strength of these
combined armies, and the masterly disposition made by the commanders,
convinced M. de Vaudreuil that resistance would be ineffectual, and he
demanded a capitulation; and on the 8th of September, 1760, Montreal,
Detroit, Michili-Mackinac, and all other places within the government of
Canada, were surrendered to his Britannic Majesty. The destruction of an
armament ordered out from France in aid of Canada completed the
annihilation of French power on the continent of America.[250]

But though the conquest of Canada was thus completed, and the American
colonies thus secured from the encroachments and dangers which had
disturbed their peace and caused much sacrifice of life for one hundred
and thirty years, yet the war between England and France was not ended,
and in 1762 Spain joined France in the war against the former; but the
actual scene of the war was chiefly the West Indies, and the series of
naval and other battles fought there were successive victories on the
part of England. "The progress of the British conquests, which
threatened all the distant possessions of the enemy, was arrested by
preliminary articles of peace, which were signed and interchanged at
Fontainebleau between the Ministers of Great Britain, France, Spain, and
Portugal, on the 3rd day of November. On the 10th of February, 1763, a
definite treaty was signed at Paris, and soon after ratified."[251]

The joy was general and intense throughout England and North America at
such a conclusion of a seven years' open war, preceded by several years
of hostile and bloody encroachments on the settlements of the English
provinces by the French and Indians. It was a war prompted and commenced
by the colonies, and in which their very existence as well as liberties
were involved. No one of the American colonies had a deeper, if as deep
a stake in the results of this protracted struggle as the province of
Massachusetts; no one had more suppliantly and importunately solicited
the aid of money and men from England; and no colony had benefitted so
largely in its commerce and resources during the successive years of the
contest, as Massachusetts. As early as 1755 (the year before war was
formally declared between England and France), the Legislature of
Massachusetts adopted an address to the King, in which, after referring
to their large exp